Religious controversy heats up as ‘Festival of Blessings’ draws closer

Religious controversy heats up as ‘Festival of Blessings’ draws closer
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Suddenly all’s not quiet in IT city. Benny Hinn, an American televangelist dubbed by investigative TV ‘60 Minutes Australia’ as ‘A fake, dangerous fake’ will descend to Bangalore to ‘cure’ the terminally ill and hopelessly cripple. And the right wing rabble-rousers are working 24X7 to drive him back home.

As Hinn’s arrival on January 21 for the three-day Festival of Blessings draws closer the controversy is hotting up. Local TV channels have called the pastor a charlatan and his debunked his faith-healing prowess a conversion gimmickry.

Most newspapers are going hammer and tongs at Hinn’s professed conversations with Jesus Christ in early life.

Meanwhile the organisers remain unperturbed by the brouhaha. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, organising committee national chairman Gul Kripalani assured that come what may, Hinn will stage his psychedelic circus a la Michael Jackson with 67 giant screens and 1,50000 watts (RMS) sound and 2100 member choir, at the Jakkur aerodrome here.

Meanwhile a local court has ordered an Assistant Commissioner to investigate into the goings-on and file a report.