Church claims ownership of building after Dalits' reconversion

A row has erupted over a building used as a church for the last ten years by over 40 Dalits, who reportedly reconverted to Hinduism on Tuesday at the behest of RSS, with the Church claiming it had not been given back the possession and allegations that it was being converted into a temple.
The church was reportedly converted into a makeshift temple by the Dalits of Asroi village near Iglas area of the district. After the objection of the Church, a team of district officials visited the village yesterday but did not find any idol on the premises.
When contacted Senior Superintendent of Police Aligarh, Mohit Gupta, said, "We have presently found no evidence of violation of law. If we get any evidence in the future then strict action under law will take place".

Father Yousuf Das, the head of the Central Methodist Church at Aligarh, expressed reservations over the church being "converted into a temple".
"Our contention is that the building, which was housing the church, was purchased legally ten years ago and we want the possession of the building. For this appropriate authorities have been approached," he said.
The "reconversion ceremony" was held in the building in the presence of local members of 'Dharam Jagran Samiti' of the RSS on Tuesday.

The members of the Samiti said that all the reconverted persons belonged to Dalit families "and were converted by offering false inducements. They have now returned to the fold of Hinduism on their own."

The Church did not object to their move and said that they were free to switch to any religion.
Father Yousuf Das said, "We live in a free country and every person has the right to choose the religion of his choice. If these persons at Asroi wanted to revert to their original religion we have no problem."
However, the priest said "the incident has left us shaken and we hope that such situation do not take place in the days ahead".
"Representatives of different church organisations are meeting to review the incidents of the past week. We do not have possession of the building till today afternoon," he said.

Member of Dharam Jagran Samiti Khemchand had announced at the conversion ceremony that all the reconverts had approached it in writing expressing their willingness to return to their original religion on which, the reconversion took place.