Khar Gymkhana is counted among the oldest clubs of Mumbai. This prestigious club has canceled the membership of Indian female cricketer Jemimah Rodriguez. According to Khar Gymkhana officials, some members had accused Jemima’s father Ivan of using the club premises for religious purposes. Let us know what is the whole matter? Was Jemima’s father getting the conversion done?
In fact, annual general body meeting was held on Sunday in Khar Gymkhana, in which this issue was raised. Jemima’s father Vivaan Rodriguez was accused by some club members of using the premises for religious activities and organizing programs to ‘convert’ ‘vulnerable’ people. Text messages and phone calls were sent to Indian women’s team all-rounder Jemimah Rodriguez and her father, but neither of them responded. After which a decision was taken to cancel his membership in the AGM.
Jemima’s father is associated with a missionary group
Confirming the action, Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani told The Indian Express, ‘The honorary three-year membership granted to Jemimah Rodriguez is canceled as per a resolution passed by the members attending the general meeting held on October 20, 2024. Has been done.’ According to the reasons given by Shiv Malhotra, member of Khar Gymkhana Management Committee, ‘We came to know that Jemimah Rodriguez’s father was associated with an organization called Brother Manuel Ministries. He booked the Presidential Hall for about one and a half years and organized 35 events. We all know what was happening there. We hear about conversions all over the country, but it is happening right under our noses.
Trance music and superstition in the dark room
Bye-laws of Khar Gymkhana As per Rule 4A of the Constitution, Khar Gymkhana does not permit any religious activity. Nitin Gadekar, former president of Khar Gymkhana, said he was informed about ‘religious activity’ by a staff member. ‘I, Malhotra and some other members went to see it. We saw that the room was dark, trance music was playing and a woman was saying ‘he is coming to save us’. Gadekar said, ‘I was surprised to see all this happening in the gymkhana for the first time. We protested and a decision was taken to cancel his membership.