Christmas event in Haryana's Rohtak, where The Great Khali was the chief guest, disrupted by VHP,?Bajrang Dal
Former WWE wrestler The Great Khali was the chief guest of the event organised by a pastor called Apostle Parveen Singh. Protesters alleged that the event was held to lure people, especially women, into Christianity.
A Christmas event in Haryana's Rohtak on Wednesday was disrupted by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, alleging religious conversion. Organisers of the Christmas event at Shiv Punjabi Dharamshala were forced to call off the programme after VHP and Bajrang Dal members stormed the venue and started reciting 'Hanuman Chalisa' on the stage.
Protesters allege religious conversion
Organisers also alleged that, though the police were informed, they did not act against the protesters, forcing them to leave the venue, fearing for the safety of the attendees.
The Great Khali was the chief guest
Former WWE wrestler The Great Khali was the chief guest of the event organised by a pastor called Apostle Parveen Singh. However, due to the protests, Khali did not make his way to the venue. Khali later reportedly attended the event, which was scaled down and moved to a church.
CREDIT: FACEBOOK/Apostle Parveen Singh ministery
'Celebrate Christmas only in Church'
Confirming the incident, local functionaries of the VHP and Bajrang Dal claimed that the event was held to lure people, especially women, into Christianity.
According to the protesters, Christmas should be celebrated only within the confines of churches.
Mahant Swami Anubhoot Suryavanshi of Bajrang Dal, who led the protest, said that while everyone has the right to celebrate their faith, organisers of the event in Rohtak allegedly promised money and healing illnesses in an attempt to "convert attendees."
The organisers, however, denied accusations of conversion and claimed that they had taken all necessary permissions for the event well in advance.
CREDIT: FACEBOOK/Apostle Parveen Singh ministery
Christmas celebrations disrupted in Kerala
Earlier this week, right-wing outfits had also disrupted several Christmas-related events in Kerala.
Recently, there were reports that right-wing groups in Chhattisgarh had banned Christmas celebrations in eight villages there.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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