BJP MP tells Bishop that missionaries should not try

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey Tuesday told the Bishop of Dumka Catholic Mission, Julius Marandi that the missionaries should work with the motto of service and not try conversion of people.

Dubey called on the Bishop and informed him about the 1935 Act which says that conversion could not take place without the permission of the deputy commissioner.

"I have told the Bishop that let the missionaries work with the motto of service and not try conversion," Dubey told reporters after meeting the Bishop.

The BJP MP alleged that the missionaries are active in spreading conversion in the Santhal Pargana region.

He claimed that on July 7, 16 persons were sent to jail in connection with indulging in conversion.

Later addressing a press conference the Bishop said Dubey met him and asked him to adhere to the 1935 Act.

The Bishop said he had talks with the MP for about half-an-hour.

He said that Catholic Mission are engaged in its works and not calling anybody for conversion.

The Bishop, however, said he had convened the press conference to inform that two students of Saint Joseph School were dismissed on disciplinary ground.

The dismissed students are of class 9 and 10, he said.

According to Dumka Police Station in-charge Devbrat Poddar, some guardians of students had recently accused some seniors of forcibly asking the junior class students to take intoxicated substance and bring money to purchase them.

All the victims and the accused were produced before the Child Welfare Committee. The committees chairman Manoj Kumar Sah said that the police produced nine victims and three accused students before the committee.

The Bishop said that on the basis of the guardians allegations, the two students were dismissed.

He said the incident is unfortunate and a cause for concern.