Singh had a word of praise for Judeo too, who accompanied him on his ‘rath’.

“I appreciate Judeoji from the core of my heart for carrying on the ghar vapsi programme. It is something unparalleled—a scion of a royal family washing the feet of people upon their return to the Hindu fold.”

Rajnath’s choice of Jashpur to take on Christian missionaries has a strategic significance.

The area has the biggest church in Chhattsigarh—at Kunkuri—and has a sizeable Christian population. Not surprisingly, the Parivar has boosted its activity here. The countryside is dotted by Saraswati Shishu Mandirs, meant to counter missionary schools. VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia conducted a “trishool diksha” programme at Kasabel last week.