Bastar’s Truth vs Foreign Media's Propaganda War

Last month, the case of Chhindawada, a village in Bastar, gained significant attention. A Christian man, Ramesh Baghel, sought permission to bury his pastor father in the cremation ground traditionally used by the Sanatani villagers, following Christian burial rites. The case was taken to the Supreme Court.

However, both the High Court and later the Supreme Court ruled that the deceased Christian pastor should be buried in a cemetery designated for Christians, not in the cremation ground used by the Sanatani villagers. 'The Narrative' also conducted a ground report on this issue, exposing the larger conspiracy unfolding in the interior regions of Bastar.

Until now, this conspiracy primarily involved Christian missionary groups and churches, with the media playing a significant role. Outlets such as the BBC, The Wire, and various communist media groups continued their propaganda on this issue.

However, during this time, an international media outlet, ABC News (Australia), visited Chhindawada for a so-called ground report, which turned out to be a complete fabrication.

This report not only tarnished Bastar’s image but also amplified the false propaganda of "Christian persecution" in India. The ABC News report was riddled with misinformation and half-truths. Let's examine the lies and the reality behind them.

Lie 1: At the very beginning of the report, the ABC journalist claims that "Ramesh Baghel, a man from a family that has lived in the village for generations, was prevented for weeks from burying his father."

Fact-check: The truth is that the villagers never stopped Ramesh Baghel from burying his father. The villagers stated that the Chhindawada cremation ground is designated for the Sanatan society, where only those who follow traditional practices are buried.

They clarified that if Ramesh Baghel buried his father according to these customs, there would be no objection. However, if he wished to conduct a Christian burial, he should do so in a designated Christian cemetery.

Our ground report confirmed this, and villagers openly stated this on 'The Narrative’s' camera. Additionally, an affidavit filed by the Additional SP in the Supreme Court also supported this claim.

Lie 2: ABC News falsely reported that "Christians, Hindus, and Indigenous Faith practitioners have coexisted in this village for decades."

Fact-check: The so-called "Indigenous Faith" that foreign and church-backed media refer to is actually an integral part of the vast Sanatan culture.

Regarding the claim that Christians have lived in the village for decades, an RTI response from the local Tehsil office in Darbha, where Chhindawada falls, revealed that the administration had no records of Christians or churches in the village. This indicates that those who converted to Christianity did so unofficially or have not registered as Christians in government records.

Moreover, the ABC journalist visited a church located on the private land of the deceased pastor Subhash Baghel, which the local administration was unaware of. Did the ABC journalist Meghna Bali ever bother to verify the legitimacy of the church?

Lie 3: ABC News maligned local villagers, stating that "Hindu vigilantes, with the support of local authorities, prevented the burial." Ramesh Baghel also claimed that "if the administration had stood by us, this would not have happened."

Fact-check: As clarified earlier, villagers did not prevent the burial but insisted that their cremation ground be used only according to traditional customs.

The administration took a neutral stance, ensuring that the Supreme Court’s decision was implemented, allowing the Christian burial in the designated cemetery while maintaining peace in the area.

Lie 4: The ABC journalist interviewed the pastor’s brother, who claimed that "all their relatives have been buried according to Christian rituals, but now villagers are not allowing it. The administration is siding with the villagers to suppress us."

Fact-check: The foreign journalist only presented the Christian perspective without verifying facts from villagers or checking the affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court. Villagers confirmed that Ramesh Baghel’s grandfather and aunt were buried according to traditional customs.

However, after burial, the family allegedly placed a Christian cross over the graves, which was seen as a betrayal of the village’s traditions. The affidavit filed by the Additional SP also confirmed that Ramesh Baghel’s ancestors were buried following local customs.

Lie 5: Ramesh Baghel is claimed to be a third-generation Christian associated with the New Apostolic Church.

Fact-check: Villagers reported that Ramesh Baghel’s grandfather was a "Maurya," who played the Mohri (a traditional instrument) during worship rituals, indicating that he was a Sanatani, not a Christian. When we asked Ramesh Baghel during our ground report when his grandfather converted to Christianity, he had no answer.

Lie 6: Tribal leader Rajaram Todem was falsely labeled as the "boss" of Sanatan villagers.

Fact-check: Rajaram Todem is a leader of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj and a former MLA. He is not the "boss" of Chhindawada villagers. If the ABC journalist wants to use this logic, then by the same measure, Pope Francis should be considered the "boss" of all Christians, including Ramesh Baghel.

Lie 7: ABC News claimed that "local regulations were enforced without police intervention, favoring Hindus."

Fact-check: Chhindawada falls under Bastar, a PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) village where the Gram Sabha holds constitutional authority. The police's role is to ensure that the Gram Sabha functions independently as per the Indian Constitution, not according to foreign media, the Bible, or church rules.

Lie 8: ABC News falsely stated that "the BJP’s manifesto says India is only for Hindus."

Fact-check: The BJP manifesto contains no such statement.

The ABC News report appears to be part of a deliberate agenda to tarnish Bastar’s image and spread communist-Christian propaganda against India. Meghna Bali, the journalist behind this report, has previously engaged in anti-India narratives.

In September, she referred to Jammu and Kashmir as "Indian-controlled Kashmir," a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty. She also glorified Islamic terrorist Burhan Wani as an "influential young separatist leader" and published biased reports against India’s national interests.

Whether it is the Ram Temple, the Kumbh Mela, or sacred Hindu symbols like ‘Om’ and ‘Swastika,’ Meghna Bali, through ABC News, has consistently targeted elements integral to Sanatan culture and India's unity. The Bastar report is just another piece in the larger international conspiracy to break and erase Bastar’s indigenous culture.

ABC News failed to ask the real questions:

If Ramesh Baghel is a third-generation Christian, when did his grandfather convert, and why is there no record of it?

Why did the ABC journalist not check whether the churches in Chhindawada were legally approved?

Why did ABC News portray tribals as separate from Hindus when they have always been part of Sanatan culture?

Why did they ignore the Christian missionary-led violent attacks on Sanatan tribals in Narayanpur?

This so-called "ground report" by ABC News is nothing but an anti-India propaganda piece designed to further a global agenda. The people of Bastar and India must recognize and counter such narratives that seek to distort reality.