Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: January 16, 2005
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1200804,00080002.htm
Renowned Kannada litterateur and
Jnanpeeth award winner UR Ananthamurthy on Sunday cautioned Chief Minister
N Dharam Singh against associating himself with the three-day prayer meeting
of American evangelist Benny Hinn in Bangalore from January 21.
Expressing concern over reports
that Singh was expected to attend the 'Prayer for India' meeting, he said
in a statement that the chief minister should not identify himself with
what he called the "mass hysteria". "We should not encourage this (mass
hysteria)," he said.
Ananthamurthy said just as casteism
and communalism was against the spirit of Hinduism, "this is also against
the spirit of Christianity."
"He (Singh) should not do that (attend
the meet). Otherwise, it will appear as minority appeasement and vote bank
politics," he said.
The Florida-based pastor, who claims
to have the power to heal the sick and dying, is slated to attend the prayer
meet at Jakkur airfield in Bangalore, which has been touted by the organisers
as a big show, saying lakhs of people from across the country are expected
to attend it.
The event has drawn strong opposition
from the BJP, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagarana Vedike, who see it as an event
intended to promote religious conversion.
