A Hindutva group’s fundraiser in Frisco town in US state of Texas to raisemoney for, among other things, the “demolition of illegal churches” inAndhra Pradesh’s Tirupati has kicked off a storm in the United States, with14 civil rights and faith-based organisations demanding a probe into theorganiser’s activities.
The Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF)’s fundraiser, held at aneducational facility run by an Indian American in Frisco, also listed gharwapsi – reconversion of Muslims and Christians ‘back’ to Hinduism – asanother part of their agenda.
*The Fundraiser*
A flyer for the event – GHHF: Gala Dinner, Annual Fundraiser & VolunteerAppreciation Day – was posted on the American event management andticketing website Eventbrite. The event page listed the GHHF agenda asfollows: Ghar Wapasi, Bala Samskar Kendras – Sunday Schools, Renovation ofGrama Devatas, Annadanam in India, Karthika Masa Puja kit Distribution,Demolition of Illegal Churches in Tirupati, Gaushalas, Oxygen Concentrators& Ventilators, Free Meals served to First Responders in Dallas Metropolitancities (sic).
The two things that perturbed many in the local Indian American community,especially Christians and Muslims, were the mention of ghar wapsi and the“demolition of illegal churches in Tirupati.”
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The Quint website highlighted Ghar Wapasi” and “Demolition of IllegalChurches in Tirupati” for clarity in the image below, taken from the flyer.
GHHF confirmed to The Quint that the event did take place as scheduled on27 November. Prakasarao Velagapudi, the GHHF president who chaired theevent, however, added that no money was raised during the event and thetopic was only discussed.
He sidestepped the question on details about their guest list and whoattended the fundraiser.
