Berhampur, Orissa, India., Jan. 30 - The Shankarachrya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, has criticised the recent move by some organisations to refer to tribals as non-Hindus.

According to news sources, in a recent press conference during his visit to Ganjam College, Swami Nischalananda said this would lead to religious conversions in the tribal areas of the country. He alleged that the considering tribals as non-Hindus is part of a larger conspiracy against the unity of India.

Swami Nischalananda accused the Christian missionaries of resorting to deception for religious conversion. He felt that missionaries in remote areas are actually interested only in religious conversions, not in providing service to the people.

Such religious conversions might one day divide the country again, he warned. He blamed the pseudosecularism practised by politicians for encouraging religious conversions. The majority has always been sidelined, he remarked.