MDMK chief Vaiko denies claims of conversion

Evangelist had stated that he had converted to Christianity

November 08, 2017 12:24 am | Updated 08:05 am IST - CHENNAI

MDMK leader Vaiko

MDMK leader Vaiko

MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Tuesday denied the claim of one of Tamil Nadu’s prominent evangelists Mohan C. Lazarus that he had converted to Christianity and was reading the Bible twice a day.

“I am not a Christian. I respect all religions and my daughter-in-law has a pooja room in which you can see images of all Gods,” he told The Hindu when asked about the claim of Mr. Lazarus in a video that is being widely circulated on social media.

In the video, Mr. Lazarus is heard saying that all the family members of Vaiko had become Christians and dedicated themselves to the service of Jesus. “His daughter and son-in-law are Christians. They are in the US, and every Sunday, they do the service of God. His wife is a Christian. Since he is in public life, he is not able to announce his new faith. He told me that he was reading Bible two times a day and asked me how to pray and I taught him,” Mr. Lazarus claimed.

Mr. Vaiko said he himself raised the issue with Mr. Lazarus as the claim would have serious consequences and the evangelist from the Southern district had told him that the speech was made at a private gathering.

“It was a result of his overenthusiasm,” Mr. Vaiko said. “It’s me and my brother who regularly contribute to the maintenance of the Vinayagar temple in my village,” he said.

He clarified that his daughter had married a Christian and there was no truth in the claim of Mr. Lazarus about others.

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