A US citizen named Scott Alan Norling who is also reportedly one of the founderrs of Bethel Bible College in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, has been accused of violating Indian visa rules and involving in religious conversion activities.
According to the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), Scott Alan Norling has been actively taking part in religious preaching and proselytization activities through the Gospel Mission of India, Guntur under which Bethel Bible College is functioning.
Gospel Mission of India is an FCRA-registered NGO based in Guntur which receives foreign funding majorly from the Gospel Mission of India, Minnesota, USA.
A Times of India report states that the Gospel Mission of India had distributed relief material to 1000 families in Guntur town during the COVID-19 pandemic which was sponsored by Joyce Meyer Ministries, USA.
Scott Norling is said to have played an important role in making an appeal to Joyce Meyer Ministries on behalf of Gospel Mission of India for money.
In April 2020, Scott Norling had inaugrated a ‘Well of Life’ in the Jagadririgutta suburb of Hyderabad. According to Joyce Meyer Ministries, this Well of Life, allows people access to clean, fresh, disease-free water and a place to “freely worship Jesus”.
In May 2022, Scott Alan Norling attended the inaugural ceremony of Eminent Pastors Fellowship in Guntur as a Chief Guest which was organized by Bethel Bible College.
What is worth mentioning is that Scot Alan Norling is a director of two companies in India.
In light of all the above mentioned facts, the LRPF has petitioned the Ministry of Home Affairs, stating that it strongly suspects Scott Alan Norling to be staying in India either on business visa or employment visa and carrying out religious activities on behalf of Gospel Mission of India and its sub entity Bethel Bible College.
“The activities of Mr. Scot Alan Norling come under the violation of Indian visa norms since the Government of India does not grant visas to foreigners to participate in religious activities in India. The said activities of Mr. Scot Alan Norling in contravention to Section 14 (b) of the Foreigners Act, 1946. Hence, we request your good office to take necessary action against Mr. Scot Alan Norling for violating Indian visa rules and cancel the FCRA registration of ‘Gospel Mission of India – Guntur’ for involving foreigners to take part in its religious activities in India.”, the complaint by LRPF read.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.