Protest mount against US Evangelist Graham Franklin’s visit in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Inorder to over come the visa restrictions to foreigners that not to take part in religious propagation, Evangelists in Hyderabad has organised one ‘Children’s Festival’ and ‘Hyderabad Festival’ in which Graham Franklin, son of Notorious  US Evangelist Billy Graham is the chief guest.

Hindu organisations including VHP and  Bajrangdal have made it clear that they will oppose any such illegal move and any effort to proselytise Hindus will be thwarted. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, VHP state joint secretary T Yaman Singh alleged that on the pretext of Children’s Festival celebrations to be held at LB Stadium for four days from November 10 , the organisers would proselytise poor Hindus by distributing food, clothes, medicines and other gifts.  

Franklin is coming to India on a visiting visa but will be participating in religious activities, which means he will be violating the visa norms. If the government does not respond to the violation of visa norms, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, along with Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations, will stage a protest at the stadium and force Franklin to go back to his country,” Yaman Singh warned.

 He recalled an instance in October when William Lee, a USbased evangelist, was arrested by the Kochi police for addressing a gospel convention by violating tourist visa norms.Nomula Vinod Kumar, city convener of Bajrang Dal, appealed to all nationalists to condemn and resist conversions. He also requested the state and central governments to take immediate action against Christian missionaries engaged in converting people of other faiths to Christianity.

At the same time Evangelists are getting full support from ruling Congress Government and directed Police to ensure all protection to this Evangelist. Police already started arresting Hindu activists in the area.

Responses