Jemimah Rodrigues with her father Ivan. (Photo via Jemimah Rodrigues' X)Khar Gymkhana, one of Mumbai’s oldest clubs, has cancelled the membership of Indian women cricket team’s leading batter Jemimah Rodrigues.
According to Khar Gymkhana officials, the action was taken after some members objected to her father Ivan using the club premises for “religious activities” and alleged that events were organised to “convert” the “vulnerable”.
The decision to cancel her membership was taken at Sunday’s annual general body meeting here. Text messages and phone calls Monday to Jemimah Rodrigues and her father for comments remained unanswered.
Confirming the action, Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani told The Indian Express: “The honorary three-year membership given to Ms Jemimah Rodrigues was revoked pursuant to a resolution passed by the members who attended the general meeting held on October 20, 2024.”
Khar Gymkhana managing committee member Shiv Malhotra spelled out the reasons. “We came to know that Jemimah Rodrigues’s father was attached to an organisation called Brother Manuel Ministries. They booked the presidential hall for almost a year and a half and held 35 events. We all know what was happening there,” he said.
“We hear about conversions all over the country, but it’s happening right under our nose. There was dancing, expensive music equipment, big screens. As per Khar Gymkhana’s bye-laws Rule 4A of the constitution, Khar Gymkhana does not permit any religious activity,” Malhotra said.
Former Khar Gymkhana president Nitin Gadekar said he was informed about the “religious activity” by a staff member. “Me, Malhotra and a few other members went to see it. We saw the room was dark, trance music was playing and a lady was saying ‘He is coming to save us’. I was surprised how Gymkhana can allow this in the first place. We protested and it was decided to cancel her membership,” Gadekar said.
In 2023, Khar Gymkhana had invited Jemimah Rodrigues to be a member and use its facilities.
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