A Hindu speaker headlining a religious ceremony
on Hollywood beach has religious groups angry
throughout Broward County and the mayor canceling
an appearance at the event.
Sadhvi Ritambhara, billed as an inspirational
Hindu speaker, is slated to be part of Bhajans,
a religious ceremony filled with songs and joyous
praise at the Hollywood Beach Culture and Community
Center today.
But the event has not brought joy to city officials,
who have been inundated with calls from angry
protesters. A press conference denouncing the
event was held Friday by several Indian-American
organizations on the steps of City Hall.
About 15 religious organizations are expected
to stage a peaceful protest outside the beach
community center today.
Turns out Ritambhara is a controversial figure
in India.
''It's not about one religion against another,
but Sadhvi Ritambhara's party is anti-minority,''
said Syed Ali Rahman, president of the Florida
Indian-Muslim Council. ``She is using the sanctity
of religion to raise money to incite a message
of hate against Christians and Muslims in India.''
The event is sponsored by the South Florida
Hindu Association and was organized by Phonethip
''Tai'' Vaz, a Hollywood business owner and
longtime community activist. The group rented
the Hollywood facility for the event.
Tickets are $5.
A flier for the event made it appear that the
city was a sponsor of the event, which has upset
some city officials.
Ritambhara was scheduled to speak at Florida
Atlantic University on Friday and at the South
Florida Hindu Temple on Sunday, according to
the flier.
Ritambhara's last visit to the United States
was in 2002 in New York and sparked a protest
outside of the Hindu Temple Society.
Published reports indicate the controversial
speaker is among those implicated in the destruction
of a historic mosque in 1992, which is being
investigated by the Central Intelligence Bureau
in India.
''A holy soul is coming to give a discourse
on how we can get light inside us and how we
can grow more and more,'' said Raj Jossi, a
priest at the South Florida Hindu Temple. ``She
is coming for a good reason.''
Dozens of calls poured into City Hall Thursday
and Friday.
The charge is being led by the Florida chapter
of the Indian-Muslim Council, which has enlisted
the help of 14 other Muslim and Christian organizations
in the area.
Mayor Mara Giulianti was expected to attend
the event, but backed out Thursday because of
``possible safety concerns.''
The event is still scheduled to go on, said
Raelin Storey, a city spokeswoman.
''It was erroneously published that we were
sponsoring the event. We are by no means involved
with this event,'' she said. ``We were never
a sponsor.''
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