Ezra Sargunam, a powerful and fanatical evangelist known for spreading hate against Hinduism in Tamil Nadu has triggered yet another controversy. In the video that was uploaded on NILT’s YouTube channel on April 14, 2016, Ezra Sargunam has said that there was no religion called Hinduism, further adding, “Punch on their (Hindus) face, let them bleed. Then make them understand the truth (referring to Christian Conversion)”. This video started circulating widely on social media and has invited criticism from various sects of people against the zealous evangelist.
Bishop Ezra Sargunam was born on July 19, 1938 in an obscure village called Pannavillai in the State of Tamil Nadu, South India. After his high school education, he earned his graduate and post graduate degrees from the Serampore University (Calcutta) and the Fuller Theological Seminary, California, USA and was conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree by the Lynda Vysta Bible College of California.
"There is nothing called as a Hindu Religion, Punch them in their face couple of times, make them bleed and help them understand the truth" – Bishop Ezra Sargunam, now you know why M.K.Stalin wants to uproot Sanatana Dharma. pic.twitter.com/L8lwwZMVop
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) June 12, 2019
A Kamlesh Tewari rots in jail for over a year and is declared to be a ‘threat to national security’, just because he dared to call a religious figure ‘gay’, which is hardly an abuse. This scum of a bishop openly says Hindus should be ‘made to bleed’ and nothing happens to him. https://t.co/KcAk18cVw3
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) June 13, 2019
Need to reiterate. He is no fringe. Most powerful evangelist in Tamil Nadu. Most influential political operator with deep ties to Dravidian ruling establishment. Brokers politician alliance. Fixes Infra party troubles. Billy Graham trained. Not the first time advocating violence https://t.co/mVrCPUJ5B4
— Prasanna Viswanathan (@prasannavishy) June 13, 2019
India must be a rare country where some radical minorities are able to freely abuse the majority community, call names of their gods, push their religious dogma brazenly, do aggressive proselytisation, steal their cattle using firearms, and then cry 'intolerance by majority'. https://t.co/ISdVkWzkkw
— Koi Sanjay Dixit ಸಂಜಯ್ ದೀಕ್ಷಿತ್ संजय दीक्षित (@Sanjay_Dixit) June 12, 2019
A complaint against the unruly Bishop has been filed by state BJP. Ashwathaman, State secretary of Tamil Nadu BJP legal wing, in his complaint to DGP mentioned that Pastor Ezra Sargunam has attempted to disrupt the communal harmony in the state and has hurt the sentiments of Hindus.
This is not the first time that Ezra Sargunam has tried to create communal tensions in the state of Tamil Nadu. In a statement on April 27, PMK founder S Ramadoss criticised the remarks by Ezra Sargunam, Bishop of Evangelical Church of India, on the demonstration as being derogatory against Vanniyar community. He claimed that Sargunam, who called himself a Dalit Panther, had threatened the Vanniyars and belittled their protests for reservation. As Ramadoss demanded an apology from Sargunam, Dravidian and Left ecosystem shifted the narrative. Supporting Ezra Sargunam, DMK, VCK and CPI together condemned Ramadoss’s statements and alleged that it was aimed at creating ‘caste tension’.
Bishop Ezra Sargunam was born on July 19, 1938 in an obscure village called Pannavillai in the State of Tamil Nadu, South India. After his high school education, he earned his graduate and post graduate degrees from the Serampore University (Calcutta) and the Fuller Theological Seminary, California, USA and was conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree by the Lynda Vysta Bible College of California.
Well before the cold blooded murder of Thirubuvanam Ramalingam, Ezra Sargunam, openly urged Muslims to take “them” on, apparently referring to Hindus. Tamil Nadu is a state with only 5% Muslim population. This is a fertile ground for the soul harvesters. Further, the state is replete with anti-Hindu Dravidian leadership, which provides a conducive atmosphere and cover for Christian conversion.
Bishop EZRA SARGUNAM asking SDPI to go all out against Hindus who are questioning them, for which he is promising support of Vaiko, Thirumavalavan and M.K.Stalin of DMK. This happened just nine months back. #Ramalingam #JusticeForRamalingam pic.twitter.com/D65nwUBPgB
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) February 7, 2019
When Ezra Sargunam participated in a Sun news debate, he rambled that “India is a Christian country”.
Ezra Sargunam who frequently meets DMK chief, MK Stalin has the support of many political parties in Tamil Nadu.
Ezra Sargunam has many a times made hateful and violent remarks against Hindus but never has he apologized for any such remarks. A proper judicial trial will be a befitting action to restore peace and communal harmony in the state of Tamil Nadu. But as the state is being completely influenced by hatred towards Hinduism planted by Dravidian ideologists and evangelists in all institutions including the media, justice against such hate propaganda on Tamil soil seems impossible.