Jharkhand, May 23 -- 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 practic...