A recent social media post advertising a “motivational meeting” to be held by a US citizen within the university campus of a Telangana MLA, has come under scrutiny as the meeting is proselytizing in nature.
The “motivational meeting” was scheduled for 30 January 2023 between 5.00 – 8.00 pm on the campus grounds of Malla Reddy University, in Maisammaguda, Hyderabad. The founder chairman of this university is Chamakura Malla Reddy of Telangana’s ruling BRS party and the current Minister of Labour and Employment of Telangana state. He is the MLA from Medchal assembly constituency.
The missionary speaker for the upcoming meeting is Nicholas James Vujicic, an Australian-American Christian evangelist and motivational speaker of Serbian descent, born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterised by the absence of arms and legs. Although Nicholas “Nick” Vujicic was born in Australia to Serbian parents, he moved to the U.S in 2002, eventually married an American woman and currently lives quite comfortably in California. Nick Vujicic lives in the Southern California region of the U.S with his wife and four children, an area that includes the Los Angeles, Hollywood and San Diego counties or districts.
Hon’ble Telangana Minister Sri @chmallareddyMLA ji, kindly check the whereabouts of the person who was invited by your prestigious institution @MallaUniversity for ‘Students Motivational Session’.
He’s an evangelist preaching in India violating Indian Visa Provisions. https://t.co/F5U4MiKDOo pic.twitter.com/h9xEjkNxtV
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) January 30, 2023
Nick’s website (nickvujicic.com) openly invites people and organizations to “book” his time for speaking engagements, which of course, bring him ample money and support his lifestyle. While many of his “meetings” appear to be motivational on the surface of it, there is often a different agenda, beneath the exterior surface of a “motivational” speech. Nick Vujicic is a strong “born again” christian with a missionary/evangelist goal. He has openly stated his deep religious beliefs in Christianity. Nick is also the author of a few books, which reiterate his strong christian beliefs.
At the time of publishing this report, the Petbasheerabad Police on receiving a formal written complaint from members of the Hindu outfit Shiva Shakthi reached the venue.
Meanwhile, NGO watchdog Legal Right Protection Forum (LRPF) has lodged a complaint with the regional FRRO (Foreigner Regional Registration Offices) in Hyderabad, as the Nicholas James Vujicicis has allegedly violated Indian visa norms by indulging in religious preaching.
Lodged complaint with FRRO Hyderabad (MHA) against Mr. Nicholas James Vujicic alias Nick Vujicic, a US National violating Indian Visa Provisions by involving Street Evangelism and Christian propagation in the name of Motivational Sessions in India. pic.twitter.com/SquJwW15Af
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) January 30, 2023
We came to know that, on receiving a formal written complaint from @ShivaShakthiOrg activists, the Petbasheerabad Police @PtbadPS have reached the venue. Further details yet to be known. https://t.co/YNQ3QjAIpk
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) January 30, 2023
A tourist visa can only be used for non-business purposes, such as tourism or visiting family and friends. Even if one holds a missionary visa, the person cannot use it for proselytizing activities and can only join a missionary organization approved by the Government of India for which the organization must receive a certificate indicating it is compliant with the Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act.
Source : The Commune