The U.S.-based Christian Mission Organisation Mission India has voiced its concern for India’s Christian minority as well as its own workers in the country, amid threats of a nationwide anti-conversion law in India.

|TOP|The Vishwa Hindu Parished (World Hindu Council) first proposed the law in August, which could mean not simply imprisonment of up to 10 years for Christian converts but also for foreign nationals and organisations engaged in conversion activity.

Dave Stravers of Mission India said that even in the early stages, heightened persecution was expected, reports Mission Network News: “Just the fact that the major party is proposing such a law will give courage to Hindu extremists to persecute Christians in their region.

“It’s kind of like the government is saying ‘We’re really behind you on this, so go ahead.”

MNN reported that several incidents have already occurred in which Christians were persecuted, with one church group allegedly being attacked by a mob before the police intervened and also proceeded to beat the group they had rescued from the mob.

MNN fears that, although an anti-conversion law would go against India’s constitution, the idea could catch on and lead to violence similar to that of the Hindu-Muslim tensions.

|QUOTE|Stravers warned Christians in India to be particularly careful in light of the growing numbers of Dalits converting to the Christian faith and the continually rising number of churches.

“We have more than one thousand churches and mission agencies within India, mostly indigenous agencies that depend on the training that we provide and the materials that we give to discipleship efforts.

“If affects us indirectly because it’s these people, our partners, who are the ones being attacked,” he said.

Mission India called on Christians to pray for their workers who are involved in spreading the Gospel throughout India at this precarious time.