Ganesh Puthur
Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has revealed information on the anti-national activities carried out by the Church affiliates over a series of tweets. They have accused Bombay Salesian Society of Don Bosco of violating FCRA norms which accepting foreign funds. They have received 10.19 crore rupees in the previous one year, while they accumulated Rs 176 crore in the past 10 years. LRO also accuses this evangelical organisation of popping up a shadow organisation by the name ‘Vanashakthi’ to oppose Aarey Carshed in the third phase of Mumbai Metro.
LRO tweeted “#FCRAViolation Bombay Salesian Society Don Bosco got Rs 10.19 Cr in a year ( Rs 176 Cr in 10 yrs!), founded n funded #Vanashakti to oppose @MumbaiMetro3 #Aarey Carshed, deployed school kids against Metro for which @NCPCR_ ordered inquiry, wrote @HMOIndia for cancellation of rgtn+”
Another organisation linked to the Don Bosco society, Greenline, was also at the forefront on the protest against the Aarey Carshed. St Stanislaus school on Bandra, connected to the Don Bosca had made the parents of their students sign a letter to protest against Aarey Carshed. They had forced their students to take part in the protest against which the National Commission for the Projection of Child Rights had issued a notice to BMC.
Former Union Minister for Rural development Jairam Ramesh had earlier said that there is general understanding that another evangelical organisation linked to the Salesians, Caritas India was misusing their works for conversion purposes. Former PM Manmohan Singh had also accused certain NGOs of fuelling protests against Kudankulam Nuclear Reactor.
This systematic attempt to defame India has international dimensions. Evangelical missionaries always look for an entry point to venture into political cum social issues. LRO’s recent revelations show the importance of regulating NGOs from accepting foreign money since the same money is used for anti-national purposes.
