False Charges Filed After Pastor Refuses Hindu Ritual

A pastor has been falsely charged with forced conversion of a Hindu man. On Dec. 8, 2025, Pastor Rakesh was heading home after working on his farm when stranger approached him and began asking him questions. The man then demanded that Rakesh say “Jai Sri Ram” (a Hindu slogan used for worship). When Rakesh refused, the man became more aggressive. That night, the stranger filed criminal charges against Rakesh, claiming Rakesh tried to convert him. Rakesh was granted bail, but local leaders who do not want Christians in the village have made it necessary for Rakesh to appeal to a higher court. Rakesh and his wife remain faithful to their calling even as their extended family have begun to oppose them, demanding that they return to the Hindu religion to avoid these legal troubles. “It is the Lord that gives me courage,” Rakesh said. “I was a bit fearful at times, but if I die… I will be with the Lord himself.”

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in India and learn how to pray.