In a recent development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been approached with a formal complaint against the Christian NGO ‘Jesus Redeems’ based in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
The complaint, filed by the Legal Rights Protection Forum, a legal activist group, alleges serious violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) provisions.
The Commune accessed a copy of the complaint and here are the details.
Background
Mohan C Lazarus run a Christian organization named Jesus Redeems through which he does religious proselytization activities. He is known for his notoriety in disturbing communal harmony by making anti-Hindu statements.
Multiple FIRs were registered against him at different police stations of Tamil Nadu state under Sections 153, 153-A(1)(a) & (b), 295-A, 505(1)(b) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code for making statements against Hindu Temples and Hindu Gods during a mass religious gathering. Details of the cases are provided in the below table:
It is noteworthy that in another case, the Regional Passport officer refused to issue a new passport to Mr Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus because he intentionally suppressed information that he had 4 criminal cases pending against him while submitting the passport application.
In February 2021, the Madras High Court came down heavy and issued a warning to the rabid evangelist pastor for making reckless statements against Hindus and Hindu religion.
However, Lazarus got relief from the High Court through case number W.P.(MD)No.15829 of 2020, asserting his ‘Right to Travel’ as a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The LRPF has pointed out that Mohan C Lazarus and his organization Jesus Redeems attract provisions of the FCRA, 2010 which amounts to suspension/cancellation of the FCRA registration as he has a history of disturbing communal harmony by making provocative speeches and indulging in proselytization activities.
FCRA Violations
‘Jesus Redeems’ is a registered Christian religious organisation operating under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, and holds FCRA registration number 076160018. The founder and signatory authority, Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus, is also the Chief Executive Officer of a US registered Public Charity organization named ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc.’
One of the key allegations revolves around the recent amendments to the FCRA rules, which explicitly state that the Chief Functionary of the recipient Indian organization should not be a part of the donor organization. ‘Jesus Redeems’ allegedly received significant foreign contributions from ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc., (US),’ a major foreign donor.
Foreign Funds From Christian NGO Compassion International
It has been discovered that foreign donations from Compassion International (USA) to Caruna Bal Vikas, an NGO based in Chennai, were funneled to ‘Jesus Redeems.’ Records indicate that Jesus Redeems received ₹1,67,68,189, more than 1.5 Crore, from Caruna Bal Vikas between 2009 and 2015 under the guise of ‘Welfare of Children.’ From 2014 onward, Compassion International started donating directly to the FCRA-designated bank account of Jesus Redeems, totaling ₹1,13,04,681. This clearly indicates that Jesus Redeems is the primary affiliate of Compassion International (US) and Caruna Bal Vikas. The chronological receipt of foreign contributions from Caruna Bal Vikas and Compassion International (US) is detailed in the attached Annexure-7.
In 2017, the Indian government prohibited Compassion International (US) from donating to Indian NGOs due to various controversies involving child conversion and fundraising through child sponsorship schemes globally and in India. Following a complaint by the Director, FCRA Wing, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, the Economic Offenses Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Delhi Zone, registered an FIR (RC2202020E003 dated 20-02-2020) against Chennai-based organizations Caruna Bal Vikas and M/s Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd. The complaint highlighted Caruna Bal Vikas’s stated objective of ‘converting poor children into fulfilled Christian adults,’ engaging in religious activities, including conversions to Christianity, which have the potential to disrupt communal harmony, and therefore, violate FCRA, 2010. The complaint also asserted that Compassion International India funded Caruna Bal Vikas and M/s Adhane Management Consultants Pvt Ltd for conversion activities.
The Chinese Link
The complaint further notes a foreign contribution of ₹6,21,274 from BRO Devakumar VG Edwin, identified as the Managing Director of DANGOTE Group, Nigeria, in 2016. DANGOTE Group, a mining conglomerate in Nigeria, has close ties with Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd, a Chinese state-owned company, raising concerns about potential foreign influence.
This connection with China raises concerns more so because of the recent instances of arrest of Prabir Purkayastha, Founder of the NewsClick website, and Amit Chakravorty, its Head of Human Resources, on charges of conspiracy to disrupt India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The arrests were prompted by an investigative report in The New York Times, which alleged that NewsClick had received funding from a network involved in disseminating Chinese propaganda. The arrests highlight concerns about foreign contributions and their potential impact on national security, aligning with the broader context of efforts to curb external influence in India.
Publication Activities
Jesus Redeems is also accused of publishing monthly magazines in various languages without providing the necessary details and declarations required by the FCRA Act. The FCRA Act, 2010 mandates that NGOs engaged in publishing activities must provide details and declarations under the Press Registration of Books Act, 1867. Additionally, they need a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers of India confirming that their publication doesn’t fall under the category of newspapers. The complaint filed requests the verification of compliance of Mr. Mohan C. Lazarus regarding these requirements, particularly in relation to the official magazine of ‘Jesus Redeems,’ by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Furthermore, the magazine suggests that ‘Jesus Redeems’ operates in multiple countries, including the United States, Australia, Dubai, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and Sri Lanka. The organisation is reportedly hosting Christian religious events abroad, inviting pastors from various countries, including China. With all the information put together, it looks like Mr. Mohan Lazarus is the editor-in-chief, owner, and publisher of these magazines.
The complaint also notes from the copy of the FCRA return filed by Jesus Redeems that it had received an amount of ₹3,71,154 from an individual named Mr. Shirly Rohan whose residential address in Bangalore. It requests for the basis of receiving donations into the FCRA account from Indian residents.
LRPF Calls For Cancelling FCRA Registration Of Jesus Redeems
Given the gravity of the allegations, the Legal Rights Protection Forum urges the Ministry of Home Affairs to immediately suspend the FCRA registration of ‘Jesus Redeems’ and conduct a thorough investigation into its activities. The complaint highlights potential violations of FCRA provisions, potential foreign influence, and legal issues surrounding the chief functionary.
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