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It seems ’ghar wapsi’ (reconversion) has reared its ugly head again, and this time, it is in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. More than 100 tribal Christians were allegedly converted to Hinduism in the district on Wednesday.

The incident took place at Kharmadanga village near Suri under Rampurhat police station area as members of the adivasi community were reportedly converted following a religious ceremony.

Allegation were raised against the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for conducting the ghar wapsi programme. The ghar wapsi was allegedly supervised by VHP leader Jugal Kishore. The conversions reportedly took place immediately after VHP chief Praveen Togadia’s programme at Rampurhat town on Wednesday.

Sources said VHP leaders claimed that the adivasis were originally Hindu by faith but were enticed by the Christian missionaries using money.

"I condemn the incident. It is not proper. This was never prevalent in Bengal. The BJP is playing such tricks to incite riot and religious conflicts. They are luring away innocent tribal people from one religion to another. They are being misguided," said Birbhum district Trinamool Congress president Anubrata Mondal.

Mondal said the saffron brigade is playing a communal card to get a political toehold in Bengal. The district police officers said they had no knowledge about the conversion programme.

Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien later tweeted, "Media reporting that 100+ Adivasi Christians converted to Hinduism alongside a Praveen Togadia VHP rally in Birbhum... I have learnt the state government is ascertaining more details. I will address media when I have more details."

The Rajya Sabha MP further added, "Let me say this, if there is even a hint of coercion or forced conversion the issue will be dealt with in a strong manner possible."

"Bengal has a long history of living in communal harmony and bigots like Togadia will be dealt with ruthlessly," O’Brien tweeted.