There are accusations of a mass conversion campaign centered around Vanvasi villages deep inside the forests of Wayanad. Pentecostal sects reach these hamlets and target Janjatiya children for religious conversion to Christianity. The news gained traction since local poet Sukumaran Chaligatha disclosed the issue through a Facebook post.

Sukumaran belongs to the Ravula tribe and is the Mooppan (chieftain) of the Chaligatha Ambedkar Adivasi colony near Manathavady. The Ravula (Adyar in Malayalam, Yerava in Kannada) is a Janjatiya community in Karnataka and Kerala. Their common language is known as the Ravula language. They live predominantly in the Kodagu district of Karnataka and its adjacent regions in Kannur and Wayanad in Kerala.  

The Church of God (Full Gospel) in India is a Pentecostal group behind this dishonest move. They coerce the children using food and story books and carry out compulsory Christian religious education. Children are taught Christian religious history by taking them to their prayer houses.

Sukumaran also released several pictures of this fraudulent church. This is what he noted.

When I questioned this (forced conversion), they (church authorities) said, “Who are you to ask that, and what is your problem?” Sukumaran reminded them that he was the village elder of the Ambedkar colony, and it was his duty to look after the welfare of the villagers.

They questioned his authority and asked for evidence that he was the Mooppan. Such chieftains are not voted but are elected with the full support of the entire village. The conversion mafia told him, “Don’t worry about everyone else.” Sukumaran was also threatened and advised to take care of his business or face the consequences.

Sukumaran accused the church of distributing workbooks containing religious subjects to young children. The Pentecostal sect does not have any permission to run schools or other centers of learning or educate children that way, Sukumaran added.

Last year, the state Scheduled Tribes Department issued a circular prohibiting people from entering forest villages without permission. Despite such bans, neither the police nor others are willing to restrict the conversion rackets or take any action against them.

Sukumaran alleged that if things continue like this, entire Janjatiya groups will convert. He asked the government to intervene and end this evil practice of forced conversion.

Church of God (Full Gospel) in India operates from its international Head Quarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, USA. The Pentecostal organization claims a presence in 173 countries around the world. In Bharat, these missionaries have indulged in conversion since 1908. C C Thomas is the Administrative Bishop of the Church of God in India Kerala State and All India Governing Body Chairman

Rahul Gandhi represents Wayanad in the Lok Sabha and is allegedly the Vatican’s representative in Bharat. Kerala is ruled by a communist regime with close ties to international fraudster Pentecostal priests like K P Yohannan and his Believers Church. Will Sukumaran be able to match the might of such Christian conversion mafias?