Christians in Chhattisgarh caught between a rock and a hard place

A poster outside the 116-year-old Sundarganj Mennonite Church in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, warns non-Christians to enter at their own risk. Nearly 50 km away, at Jamgaon village in neighbouring North Bastar Kanker district (Kanker hereafter), a signboard outside the 15-year-old Diocese of Church of God declares: “Entry of pastors and priests is strictly prohibited.”

Though different in wording and intent, the two signs point to a growing climate of caution and hostility around Christian worship in parts of the State. In central Chhattisgarh, churchgoers say prayer meetings are being disrupted and visitors are questioned about their presence. In the tribal region of Bastar, curbs on the entry of pastors and priests have emerged amid disputes over religious practices and burial rights.

These developments have unfolded against the backdrop of the Chhattisgarh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 2026, or the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act (FORA), taking effect and replacing a 1968 law enacted in undivided Madhya Pradesh. Passed by the State Assembly in March and notified in August, the new law prescribes stricter punishments, including life imprisonment and fines of up to ₹25 lakh in specific cases of “illegal conversions”. It also requires individuals intending to convert, as well as religious functionaries conducting conversions, to submit declarations or prior intimation to the competent authority – defined as the District Magistrate or an authorised officer of at least the rank of Additional District Magistrate.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the State, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has defended the law as a measure to curb conversions carried out by “exploiting people’s poverty and lack of education and knowledge”. However, Christians and their representatives fear that its provisions could be misused to restrict religious freedom and deepen existing hostility towards their community.

“Almost every Sunday, members of the Bajrang Dal and other right-wing groups disrupt prayers. While such disruptions are not new, they are now carrying printed copies of the FORA and stopping visitors. Citing provisions of the new law, the intruders ask attendees to either convert to Christianity or avoid visiting churches altogether. There are Christians, non-Christians who have been praying for years, and casual visitors who come to the church, but now they all live in fear. With the police administration taking little to no action, there is little we can do,” says Diamond Philus, general secretary of the Dhamtari District Christian Forum.

He says the law has heightened fears of misuse because of its stringent provisions and the administration’s “attempts to placate the party in power”. Some community members also argue that it infringes on the constitutional rights to freedom of conscience, religious freedom, privacy, and personal liberty.

Pre-emptive action

“Conversion is a legal process, but there are many who see belief in [Jesus] Christ as different from Christianity. This new law pushes for registration, though there are many who are unwilling to do so,” says Philus.

Apart from putting up posters, churches in Dhamtari are also asking visitors to fill self-declaration forms stating that they are visiting of their own free will and not under any pressure. The churches claim that 1,500 such forms have been submitted to the District Collector.

Philus clarifies that these declarations are different from the intimation mandated under the FORA. “According to the law, the burden of proving innocence lies with anyone accused of alluring someone to come to church or promising them something. So, these forms are pre-emptive, so that we have some proof if any action is taken against us,” he says.

The disruptions and even the posters have had little impact on visitors to the Sundarganj Mennonite Church, according to Philus.

However, Alok Majumdar, a local pastor who runs a small prayer hall nearby, says people carrying copies of the law and telling others to stay away from prayer meetings until they formally convert have managed to keep many visitors away.

“No action is taken against those who disrupt our prayers. Even if an FIR is registered, it is usually against a group rather than the individuals we name in our complaints. We have nowhere to go,” says Philus.