D. Ron Watts, a Canadian Christian Missionary, is in India on a Business Visa. He holds the post of President, South Asian Division of the Seventh Day Adventists. By his admission, he receives his monthly salary in US Dollars. But as he explicitly admits, has not taken any permission from the Reserve Bank of India to exchange his dollars.
He engages himself in evangelism and proselytizing activities while on Business Visa into India. He operates out of his Hosur office of the Seventh Day Adventists. Hosur used to be a part of the Dharmapuri District (TN), when he entered the country in 1997.
When Ron Watts came to India and assumed charge 1997, Seventh Day Adventist Church had a membership of 2,25,000 persons in all its 103 years of existence. But within a span of 5 years due to the illegal and unethical methods adopted by Watts and his agents, the SDA membership has shot up to 7 lakhs. Within a span of 5 years, he made 5 lakh baptisms and thereby 5 lakh conversions.
In 2003, the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) issues a Deportation order on Ron and Dorothy Watts, his wife. This is sent to the Tamil Nadu State Government.
The State Government also issues “orders” to the District Collector of Dharmapuri, asking him to deport the Canadian, Ron Watts and his American wife, Dorothy Watts.
The District collector promptly writes to the Superintendent of Police, Dharmapuri District asking him to “deport” the two foreigners and present him with the action taken report. The Superintendent of Police writes to the Inspector of Mathigiri Police Station and asks for an action taken report.
Two extraordinary things happen:
Hosur is taken out of Dharmapuri District and is attached to Krishnagiri District in a move to better administration of the districts.
The Inspector of Police, Mathigiri and all the above officials go to sleep. Dharmapuri no longer controls Hosur. So all the orders get into a comatose state.
It should be borne in mind that Jayalalithaa government brought the anti-conversion law after 250 villagers in Madurai District were converted to Christianity by Ron Watts and his agents. And repealed it once she lost all the 40 Lok Sabha seats, when she was ‘guided’ that these neo-Christians voted against her. Such is the power of Christian-politics that is on the ascent in our Dharma Bhoomi.
Ron Watts and Dorothy Watts continue to lead a royal life in India and convert 800,000 gullible Hindus to Christianity. The latest figures of SDA indicate a membership of 1 million people (the declaration of reaching this ‘landmark’ will be made during the General Conference in the USA). More champagne will flow in USA. And more dollars into India to strengthen the crusade of these dispicable people.
This is an extraordinary situation. Two foreigners stick out their middle fingers at our law. Right in front of our faces. And we are silent witnesses to the two christist and two christist pampering Chief Ministers of the Southern States who are our great leaders in supporting the very rape and erosion of our Hindu culture from our Dharma Bhoomi.
Ron Watts is leaving India shortly to attend the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist in USA. He is taking with him a large contingent of 200 people. Sources confirm that he managed visas for most of them by producing letters issued by Seventh Day Risk Management Company. These are ‘kind of delegates’ to attend a seminar that in reality, is not happening, but the truth is that they are the bunch of cronies out to support Ron Watts on his re-election. There is no meeting scheduled of the Seventh Day Risk Management Group. This is a fraud committed on the US Embassy, Chennai to obtain visas, for the group. Knowing the ways of the current Bush administration, perhaps, they are facilitating. Ron Watts is out to get himself re-elected to his existing post in the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists in USA which is scheduled on the 26th June. He will come back with renewed energy. And with much larger resources to convert many more Hindus to Christianity. He knows that the Indian law is an ass. That the State administrators are plain jack-asses. He appears to have brazenly fine-tuned them to his wavelength.
It is very likely that he will get a different Visa, this time. And will come back so he can continue with his flourishing business of conversions.
Unless there are strong public protests and protests from Hindu Organizations, people like Ron Watts will go unchallenged. And one foresees a rerun of another Graham Staines case, if he is not kept out of India for his own safety. Maybe, the Super P.M. will give a Padma Award to Dorothy Watts, too, like she gave the Staine’s widow. She got it for her two dead children. If we allow him to come back, 9,000 Hindus will get converted each month, to loathsome methods of this Satanic Seventh Dayist.
Now, on to the main story:
On 17 February, 2005, the Canadian National, D.R.Watts who is the President of the South Asia division of the Seventh Day Adventists was questioned by Shri T.S. Basheer, Executive Magistrate, Tehsildar, Tiruvilia, Kerala. He was in Kerala purportedly under the invitation of Rajan Samuel, Principal of the Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School, Kuttapuzha P.0, Tiruvilia. I have a copy certified by the Additional District Magistrate, Pathanamthitta of a 9 page deposition made by D.R.Watts before the Executive Magistrate, Tehsildar, Tiruvilia.
An extract of the deposition Ron Watts made on 17th Feb. 2005, is given below:
“I am the Vice President of General Conference of SDA assigned to me of administration of schools, colleges, hospitals and churches.
I am unaware of the kinds of the Visas.
There was a case against me before the High Court of Tamil Nadu at Chennai. In that case I had sworn in an affidavit that I came to India on a Business Visa which expired last year- 2004”.
Q.: What Business are you doing
here?
A.: I don’t know what business
I am doing.
Q.: Why did you come to Seventh
Day Adventist Higher Secondary School, Kuttapuzha, Tiruvilia to inaugurate
the school building in the name of President of the South Asian Division
of SDA, with a Business Visa?
A.: I was invited by them as a
guest.
Q.: What connection, a foreign businessman
with a business visa, with a school in Kerala
A.: No connection
Q.: Under what provision of law
you are involving or attending religious functions in India, especially
Kerala, like the above admitted Kottarakkara functions?
A.: Under instructions/guidelines
of the Foreigner’s Act, I understand that I can’t involve in such activities
as above.
Q.: Are you a salaried person?
A.: No. I receive my funds from
my employer General Conference of SDA in Silverspring, USA.
Q.: Here also you are admitting
that you are doing religious service in India. Is it?
A.: I am doing the administrator
work of a religious organization.
Q.: What did you disclose in the
Form 6, Column 8, for the purpose of Visiting India?
A.: Administrator of the Seventh
Day church.
Q.: Do you feel that you have violated
all laws generally Foreigners Act by virtue of the above facts.
A.: Yes
Q.: It is found in the above facts
that you have admitted in your own words you are guilty of having violated
all the laws governing Foreigners. Is it?
A.: I agree.
Q.: Therefore are you ready to leave
the country all by yourself within 24 hours?
A.: YES.
Q.: Or do you know that you will
be sent to jail, for any more violation of the law and you agree to promise
above?
A.: Yes I know.
Following is the undertaking given by Ron Watts in his own handwriting:
“I do apologize to the court for any violation of .the law of the country which I am charged with. I do not wish in any way to violate any laws of India. If the court is pleased to accept my apology and grant lenience on humanitarian ground, I will deport from India within twenty four hours. Further I will not come to India any longer in religious purpose, nor will involve in religious activities in the name of Visa specified for other purpose.”
Now, having given this written undertaking to the Executive Magistrate, Tiruvilia, D.R.Watts continues to stay in India.
And in the 106 days since then, has been instrumental in converting more than 31,800 (estimate 2003 rate of conversion as per SDA’s own admission) people to Christianity. Does this surprise anybody?
On 17th Feb. 2003, Rajan Samuel,
the Principal of the SDAHSS, Kuttapuzha, Tiruvilia, Kerala, undertakes:
‘As has been directed, I will personally
ensure that D. R. Watts, President, Southem Asia Division of S. D. A. will
leave India within 24 hours on his illegal involvement in religious activities
in India.
“I will inform the A.D.M.Pathanamthitta, Tehsildar and Executive Magistrate, Tiruvilla and Additional Sub Inspector of Police, Tiruvilia Sri Antony John in person and also in writing the date and time of leaving of D.R.Watts and other details as the place of departure, flight of departure and Airport of his departure within 24 hours of D.R. Watts leaving the country.”
“On any violation, I agree that the undertaking both civil and criminal proceedings can be initiated against me. I will be personally held responsible for any act of omission or commission in this regard.”
Ron Watts makes a deposition. Makes a handwritten apology in which he undertakes to leave the country in 24 hours, in presence of honourable witnesses. More importantly the deposition is made in the presence of the Additional District Magistrate, Pathanamthitta to the Executive Magistrate, Tahsildar, Thiruvilla and in the presence of the Sub Inspector of Police, Thiruvilia. The Principal of the SDA HSS takes the criminal and civil responsibility of ensuring the departure of Ron Watts.
And what does Ron Watts do once he is out of Kerala?
He goes back to Hosur and shoots a fax, the very next day of his deposition, to the Additional District Magistrate, Pathanamthitta, The Secretary, Home Department, Kerala, The Director General of Police, Kerala and Additional District Magistrate, Pathanamthitta that he was coerced and forced to make the deposition.
Following the deposition by Ron Watts on 17th Feb, 2005, the District Collector of Pathanamthitta, Kerala wrote to the Personal Secretary, Chief Minister of Kerala a lengthy note No 14036/2005 dated 26/02/2005, giving the chronological order of the events: Inter alia, the note said:
“As the issue involved in is a very serious issue pertaining to the Security of the Nation I taxed a preliminary report on 22-02-2005 to the Government together with some documents to the Private Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Minister.
On 18-02-2005 I received a faxed complaint from D.R.Watts levelling several false allegations against me to make believe others that he gave evidence admitting his guilt and wrote and gave assurance to me on 17-02-2005, were all on the basis of force and coercion applied on him. This allegation is totally false and incorrect which establishes that D. R. Watts as a cunning villian goes to any extent to say and do false things in wrongful ways....
In the light of the various facts and circumstances of the case as above it is reported that D. R. Watts is a Security concern for the Nation that the Government may take necessary actions according to law against D. R. Watts and to deport him from India as he has intentionally and deliberately violated all the Visa norms as also already admitted by him that he has involved in religious activities including religious conversions in India.
It is also requested to take up the matter with the Government of India in view of the National Security that no foreigner endangers the country by such acts of traitory.”
How is it that he is allowed a free stay in India, despite the above deposition and a deportation order against him dated 05/09/2003 Letter No: 3608/All 2003-I given by Tmt R.Vasantha, B.A., Under Secretary to Government, Public (Foreigners) Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 addressed to the Collector of Dharmapuri and received by the collector on 12 Sept, 2003?
The Deportation Order says: “I am directed to invite attention to the references cited and to state that the Government of India have considered the case of the above foreigner and found not possible to grant further extension of stay in India. They have also instructed that they may be asked to leave India within 15 days (fifteen days) on receipt of this letter I am also to state the above foreigners are still living in Dharmapuri and getting extension of resident every year.
I am therefore directed to request
you to take action accordingly and to intimate the date of departure of
the above foreigners immediately to the Government for onward transmission
to the Government of India.
This may be treated as ‘Most Urgent’.”
Based on the above orders, the District Collector of Dharmapuri, Sri M.A.Siddique wrote to the Superintendent of Police, Dharmapuri District Letter No: 59073/03 (C5) dated 24/09/03. This order is issued in Tamil and the gist of it is that the District Collector brings to reference the Government order and directs the SP, Dharmapuri to deport the two foreign nationals within the time stipulated by the order and send an action taken report to him.
The Superintendent of Police, Dharmapuri District wrote on 20/10/2003 – B1/1 066/BCAP/2003 to the Inspector of Police, Mathigiri (Hosur) instructing him to act as per the copy of the Collector’s, order attached. The Inspector of police was directed to ensure deportation of the two foreign nationals, D.R.Watts and Dorothy Watts within 7 days from the date of receipt of the order.
It is a cruel joke that all these orders carry the note: MOST URGENT.
Watts continues to stay. Converting at the rate of 300 people per day to Christianity (conversion figures of 2003, currently it is approximately 500 people per day).
If anybody has serious doubts if the business of Watts is other than conversions, take a look of the text of the letter written by the General Secretary of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Southern Asia Division. This letter is addressed to the District Collector and The District Magistrate, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala State and is dated February 10, 2005. His letter will reveal why D.R.Watts was grilled in Thiruvilia. The text is reproduced below:
‘Dear Sir, I would like to inform you the arrival of Pastor D. R. Watts, the President of the Southern Asia Division of Seventh Day Adventist, to the SDA Higher Secondary School at Kuttapuzha, Tiruvalia, Pathanamthitta District on 17 February, 2005 for inaugurating our new School Building there. Pastor D.R.Watts is a Canadian citizen and is a Business Visa holder Pastor Watts has been engaged in Evangelism mainly converting people to Christianity from Andhra Pradesh. For evangelical work Pastor Watts used to bring batch and batch of Foreign Missionaries to India on Tourist Visas. Our Division has no business and Pastor Watts also not doing any business here. He is the President of our division looking after the missionary works against his Visa norms. Pastor Watts’ target of making the membership of the division to 1 million in 2005 is almost attained. Though quantity of the membership in the division has enormously increased but the quality of it we lost due to the reason of adopting unethical methods for achieving the goal. Many complaints were made by individuals and organisations against Pastor Watts hushed of all those complaints. Our division needs an Indian leadership to function the SDA Mission in India like that of all the other Christian Denominations. Pastor Watts’ presence in India is a great hindrance for the Division to meet its privilege.
It is therefore requested to enquire into the travel documents of Pastor Watts when he arrives at Kuttapuzha on 17th Feb, 2005 and deal with him for the best interest of our country.
D.R.Watts flouts all the laws of our land with impunity. He continues to receive the patronage of Antonia Maino and Jayaa, the Centre and the State. And with Y Samuel Rajasekhara Reddy going one up in asking him to construct a church in his farm land for the 350 neo-converts, Watts is sure is on cloud nine. AP has witnessed the maximum conversions, Ongole, Tanuku and Nellore are just becoming Christian towns. The villages are already lost to churchianity.
And not too long ago, did we hear the ladies saying: All are equal before law. It is very clear that Jaya and Antonia will quote the law when hounding Hindus, Hindu institutions like the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and the venerated Acharyas.
But the Law conveniently becomes an ass when it comes to taking action against Christians. Are all equal before law?
(Note: The author has in his possession
the entire documents referred to above. Due to paucity of space, we are
unable to produce all of them. What we have given above is only a specimen.
The note No 14036/2005 dated 26th Feb.2005 of the District Collector of
Pathanamthitta, Kerala, to the Personal Secretary, Chief Minister of Kerala
is like a Thriller. Read the complete text in our next issue- Editor).