By News Desk
Jharkhand: Tribal Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Nesha Oraon on Friday, May 15, made controversial remarks, comparing religious conversion to destroying the very roots of the “Tree of Sanatan,” and that “abandoning” one’s religion is like throwing salt on the tree.
Oraon made the remarks while addressing a rally in Jharkhand. She has been campaigning across the state in an effort to “educate” the tribal community about the wrongs of religious conversion.
A video circulating online shows the IRS officer claiming that just as throwing salt at the roots of a tree would kill it, abandoning one’s faith would erase one’s identity.
“Assume that society is like a large tree. When we follow the original faith and worship practices, we are adding fertiliser and water to the tree’s roots,” she said.
“When we convert religions and forget our deities and faith, we are pouring salt at the tree’s roots. If you pour salt on the tree’s roots, the tree will die,” Oraon added.
This story was originally published in siasat.com. Read the full story here.