ALTHOUGH Franklin Graham’s Hyderabad festival kicked off without any incident, a rightwing Hindu group had threatened days ago to protest the meeting on the grounds that the evangelist was allegedly on a conversion mission.
According to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, respected not-for-profit organizations, could not participate in any religious activity as he was entering the country on a visiting visa. The VHP alleged that the evangelist’s preaching in Hyderabad will be in violation of visa norms.
Addressing a press meet in Hyderabad on Nov 7, VHP state joint secretary T Yaman Singh alleged that the festival organizers were trying to ‘convert’ poor Hindus by distributing food, clothes, medicines and other gifts under the pretext of Children’s Festival celebrations to be held at LB Stadium.
“Protestant Christian evangelist Franklin Graham is going to address the gathering at the celebration at the stadium and convert Hindus to Christianity. 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 organizations, will stage a protest at the stadium and force Franklin to go back to his country,” Yaman Singh warned.
However, the Hyderabad police promised to the festival organizers that all arrangements will be made to ensure peace in the city and particularly at the venue of the meeting while the festival was on.
According to Central Zone DCP Akun Sabharwal The police has given permission to the organizers to hold the Gospel meeting. An estimated 40,000 people are expected to attend the meetings each day.
A news report said thousands of volunteers from the 1,800odd churches in the twin cities were making arrangements at the LB Stadium for the festival, and sending out invitations and distributing pamphlets.
A series of musical events, ‘Hyderabad Festival With Franklin Graham’ will be held during Franklin’s first visit to the city and second to India, the organizers said.
Know God | Who is Jesus Christ | How is Jesus Christ unique? | Who will be saved?
