There are widespread protests over footage showing pastors being forced to set holy Bibles on fire in Rohtak district, Haryana, allegedly over charges of forced conversion. According to the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World Report by Aid to the Church in Need, ethno-religious nationalism is increasing, particularly in India, which is ranked among the 24 countries in the worst category for persecution.
It is evident from the video that Jesus Christ is being referred to with obscene language, and the group of pastors is being labeled as traitors.
A group of Arya Samaj activists threatened a group consisting of Brother Jehovah Das, his wife Sister Manikyam, Brother Vinod, his wife, and Brother Satish, accusing them of forced conversion, and After forcibly holding them by the hands, they doused the holy Bibles and gospel booklets, which were stacked together, with kerosene and set them on fire. The activists also compelled the pastors to write a statement pledging never to convert anyone to Christianity and forced them to formally confirm it.
The incident took place on Monday, November 10. The activists claim that this is an Arya Samaj village and argue that, although there is only one religion in the country, people are being converted to Christianity, a religion they say was brought from Rome. They insist that no further evangelistic activities will be permitted.
They further asserted that if they find any of these Bibles in the village again, they will burn them and destroy everything. After setting fire, they can be seen shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Arya Samaj’ loudly in the video.