Mazhabi Sikhs after their reconversion

AMRITSAR: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate, Dharma Jagran Manch ( DJM ), on Tuesday reconverted 40 people, including woman and children, from Christianity to Sikhism near here.The converts claimed to have been Mazhabi Sikhs, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste community before they embraced Christianity.Their 'Ghar Wapsi' function was held a gurdwara at Guru Ki Wadali near Amritsar, the birth place of sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib.The converts offered offering prayers before they were given religious lockets and siropas (ceremonial shawls). No major Sikh organization or functionary was present during the function.Some local Sikh residents questioned the organizers and the gurdwara management whether Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) was informed about the reconversions."We will gather information and pass it over to SGPC," said local resident Jagtar Singh Maan."I am very poor. I have no money to pay my house rent,'' said Gurmej Kaur (65) when TOI asked her why she had returned to Sikhism.DJM activists intervened and advised her not to talk to reporters. Similarly, Bhinder Kaur (30) said she had come for the event because her sister had asked her to be at the gurdwara.Jasbir Masih, who was renamed as Jasbir Singh after he embraced Sikhism, said he had converted to Christianity four year back."But they were forcing us to remove photographs of Lord Shiva and the Gurus from our houses. I could not bear it and decided to go back to my real religion.''DJM activist Dinesh Sharma said SGPC members had helped them during their earlier reconversion programme and they were informed about the latest event.Amritsar Bishop P K Samantaroy refused to believe the converts were Christians. "Had they known their religion, they would never have done so."He maintained they never forced anyone to convert to Christianity. "I am sad over the whole situation, we must bring harmony in the society.''Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had earlier slammed 'Ghar Wapsi' events at Fatehgarh Sahib on Saturday.RSS plans to hold more such events in Punjab, which could further strain ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and its ally BJP's ties in Punjab.