MUMBAI, India – India’s northeastern state of Assam is accusing Christians of “fraudulent magical healing practices,” a transfer Church leaders name “misguided and misleading.”

On Feb. 10, the Assam Cabinet authorised the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, which establishes imprisonment and fines for participating in unlawful practices “under the guise of treatment or magic healing.”

“We want to curb evangelism in Assam and in this regard, the banning of healing is an important milestone,” stated Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Feb. 12. He is a member of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which additionally guidelines the nationwide authorities.

“Magical healing is a dicey subject used to convert tribal people. We are going to pilot this Bill because we believe the religious status quo is very important for a proper balance. Let Muslims remain Muslims, Christians remain Christians, Hindus remain Hindus,” Sarma stated.

The chief minister stated the federal government will convey a laws prohibiting the observe of magical therapeutic within the identify of therapy by religion healers to transform tribal individuals.

“We are not targeting any particular religion,” he stated.

However, the Assam Christian Forum – an umbrella physique of Christian Churches in Assam – charged the federal government with the “explicit goal of curbing evangelism associated with such practices.”

“The Assam Cabinet’s assertion that Christians engage in magical healing is misguided and misleading. Our numerous dispensaries and hospitals operate within the recognized medical frameworks, providing essential services to the sick,” the group stated in a press release.

“Healing, in our context, is not synonymous with proselytization. It is a compassionate response to human suffering, irrespective of religious affiliations,” it continued.

“Prayer is a universal practice across religions, used to invoke divine healing. Labelling it as magical healing oversimplifies the profound spiritual dimensions of faith and life. Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to practice one’s chosen religion. Accusation against Christians undermines this constitutional protection,” the Christian leaders stated.

“The statement implicates Christians specifically, but it affects practitioners of all faiths. We must recognize that invoking divine blessings is intrinsic to religious worship, whether in temples, mosques, or churches.  We should celebrate the rich tapestry of religious practices that contribute to our nation’s cultural heritage,” the assertion added.

The Church leaders stated they’re additionally disturbed by the threats to academic establishments and calls for for the elimination of Christian symbols by some fringe components.

Earlier in February, an area Hindu group in Assam gave Christian faculties within the state a 15-day ultimatum to take away all Christian symbols and spiritual habits worn by clergymen, nuns, and brothers on their campuses.

Satya Ranjan Borah, president of the Hindu group, at a Feb. 7 press convention claimed Christian missionaries are changing faculties and academic institutes into non secular institutes: “We will not allow it.”

The Christian leaders stated some Hindu teams demand that Hindu worship be carried out in Christians faculties.

“We reject these demands and request the state authorities to take action against these elements who are a threat to our civilized society and are against the rights given to us by the Constitution of India,” the Assam Christian Forum assertion stated.

The group referred to as for a dialogue that promotes understanding and dispels misconceptions.

“Healing, whether through prayer or medical intervention, transcends religious boundaries. As Christians, we remain committed to compassionate service, guided by our faith and love for humanity. We emphasize the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of India and the need for respectful dialogue,” their assertion stated.

Archbishop John Moolachera, a member of the Assam Christian Forum, stated the issues are stemming from a specific Hindu group.

“As for religious dress, we will have our dress, we are not going to remove the statues. Except for this group, none of our guardians have any problem,” he advised Crux.

“We are praying for divine assistance though we have made known our apprehensions to the police and others,” the archbishop stated.

However, Christian church buildings within the state nonetheless face threats.

One of the oldest missionary faculties in Assam on Feb. 17 sought police safety after a poster was placed on its boundary wall warning the authorities to “take off” all non secular statues from the varsity inside per week or face penalties, the Telegraph reported.

Carmel School in Jorhat – situated in higher Assam – has written to the police in regards to the poster, put up on Friday evening, and urged officers to “to look into the sensitive matter and take necessary action.”

School principal Sister Rose Fatima advised police that they had “been very accommodating and respectful towards people of every religion and culture” and maintained an “atmosphere of peace and tranquility.”

No group or particular person has claimed accountability for pasting the poster.

In Assam, Christians make up 3.74 p.c of the inhabitants, exceeding the nationwide common of two.3 p.c.