Bajrang Dal threatens Millennium Club in Mumbai over Christian prayer meetings

The Hindutva group Bajrang Dal has warned the Millennium Club in Juhu, Mumbai, against allowing evangelical activities on the premises during weekends, citing alleged reports of religious conversions.

This development follows a similar controversy at another club in the city, the Khar Gymkhana, which recently cancelled the membership of cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues. The decision at Khar Gymkhana came after objections were raised against religious activities allegedly organised by her father, Ivan Rodrigues, on the club premises.

The accusations centre around claims that prayer meetings, particularly at Millennium Club, were being used as a cover for conversion activities. For over a year, members of the Protestant Christian denomination have reportedly been conducting Sunday prayer meetings in a hall at the club.

However, the allegations of conversions have been strongly denied by those involved, with a key participant in the prayer meetings refuting the claims, dismissing them as a misunderstanding caused by misinformation.

Despite these denials, Bajrang Dal has intensified its pressure, stating that the club management would bear responsibility for any disruptions to law and order if such activities continued. The group further referenced the incident at Khar Gymkhana, where similar concerns were raised. Khar Gymkhana officials claimed that the gym’s premises were used for religious activities that allegedly included efforts to convert vulnerable individuals.

These objections led to the termination of Jemimah Rodrigues' honorary three-year membership at the gym, a decision made at the club’s annual general body meeting.

At the heart of the Khar Gymkhana issue is an organisation linked to Rodrigues' father, who had reportedly booked the gym’s presidential hall for more than a year and held numerous events during that time.

Some members of the gym have alleged that these events were designed for religious conversions, citing the presence of musical performances, large screens, and expensive equipment as evidence of the scale of the gatherings. The gym’s bylaws explicitly prohibit religious activities on its premises, leading to heightened concerns among some members.

In the case of the Millennium Club, the club's management has denied witnessing any suspicious activities during the prayer meetings, which have reportedly been conducted peacefully. However, the Bajrang Dal remains unconvinced and has threatened to organise protests if the club fails to address the matter. The group has also pointed to other places in Mumbai where they believe similar conversion activities are taking place, raising concerns about the use of prayer meetings as a front for conversions.

The managing director of the Millennium Club has expressed the club’s desire to avoid any religious controversy, stating that the venue is primarily focused on entertainment and sports. He has reassured the Bajrang Dal that the club will review the situation.