As the world awaits a vaccine that will put an end to the Wuhan virus pandemic, a Christian group in Tamil Nadu is already peddling propaganda against vaccination through their TV channel asking people to ‘run away from the vaccine’ as ‘it has the mark of Satan’.
Angel TV, part of Jesus Ministries founded by Sundar Selvaraj, claims in a show broadcasted by the TV channel that the vaccine has an in-built chip which is a ‘mark of the beast’.
“This is certainly the wrath of the beast the Bible has warned us about. Let me repeat one more time. If this is an ordinary vaccine, it is no harm. But if the other two forces are joining together, the digital identity and a financial transaction ability joining together… then in the name of Lord Jesus Christ I warn you today run away from it”, evangelist Sundar Selvaraj exclaims.
In the show, a poor woman and her child is seen watching evangelist Sundar Selvaraj making these claims on Angel TV. The child asks the visibly panicked mother what ‘grandpa’ (evangelist) is saying to which the mother responds “Many are dying from plague, isn’t it? A vaccine has been found now. But it has the chip of the mark of the beast. So we must not get vaccinated. That is what ‘grandpa’ is saying”.
Sundar Selvaraj can be heard in the background saying “don’t get deceived and get spoilt”.
On the day of the vaccination drive, the mother and the child is shown standing in the queue with a voiceover [of supposedly Jesus] saying “Dear daughter Sumithra.. Look at the injection carefully! It is not just a vaccine. The mark of the beast is hidden in it! Pay careful attention to it! This is what you read in the book of revelation. If you take the mark of the beast, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Sumithra asks “What should I do now?” to which the voiceover responds “You warn them about this.”. She immediately turns and asks people to not get vaccinated. “As the lord has said in the Bible, it has the mark of the beast in it.”, Sumithra exclaims.
Two other ladies are shown discussing how a pastor had warned them about such things happening. A few other villagers ask Sumithra if she had gone mad.
Sumithra says that if the vaccine is taken they would all end up in hell to which rally behind her and say that it is true.
A local politician wearing a ‘saffronish’ shawl organizing the camp is shown yelling at Sumithra. The doctor rises from his seat and tells Sumithra that it is just a chip that is for her own good. A visibly agitated Sumithra is shown feeling helpless remembering the words of Sundar Selvaraj and runs away with her son.
On the day of vaccination lady remembers the preacher's words and warns everyone and escapes from the vaccine. 2/2
PS- politician who insists vaccine can be seen with an orange shawl pic.twitter.com/VyBBTBH4pl— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) November 15, 2020
It is known that the Muslim community is averse to vaccination of any kind and peddles conspiracies about how vaccinations are meant to sterilize their children. There are several instances where health workers have been attacked and hounded out of Muslim-majority areas whenever there is a vaccination drive.
Now a section of the Christians have started spreading false propaganda on their TV channels against a yet-to-arrive COVID19 vaccine.
Selvaraj who dresses himself in saffron is known for his proselytization activities. In the last financial year 2018-19 alone, the Chennai-headquartered Jesus Ministries organization has received donations of ₹ 2 crore from Christian organizations in the United States, Australia and Taiwan.