Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) The Indian Christian Voice (ICV) Tuesday reacted sharply to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark on Mother Teresa, terming it an insult to all those who work for the poor and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strongly condemn it.
In a statement issued here Tuesday, ICV president Abraham Mathai urged the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh to first serve and care for lepers, AIDS victims and the poor before making comments that are in "extremely bad taste".
"The level to which the RSS supremo has stooped down in his bid to retain headlines just shows how dangerous the thought process of this organisation can be. She (Mother Teresa) left her country and came to India to serve our downtrodden," Mathai said.
He said that by suggesting that Mother Teresa, who the world acknowledges as a great soul, did her work just to convert people, displays "a lack of respect for everyone who works for the needy and the poverty-stricken", the lepers, the sick and even those forsaken by their very blood because they were ill and helpless.
Mathai said that a day after he took over as India's prime minister, BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Mother Teresa.
Though she passed away in September 1997, her name evokes memories in Kolkata's lanes even today, he said.
So great was her devotion that she would gently touch the forehead of those struck with leprosy, pick up abandoned children near sewers, wash the feet of those abandoned by their own people, in a country where she was not born but which she adopted as her own, he said.
"Mother Teresa formed the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 in Kolkata which runs hospitals, leprosy homes, shelters and orphanages in India and over 130 countries for the poorest and downtrodden, irrespective of their background or creed.
"Bhagwat has not only insulted Mother Teresa but her legacy in India and in 130 countries worldwide," Mathai said.
He drew Bhagwat's attention to her international stature and said such foul attacks on such a noble saint "is not reflective and representative of the crores of Hindus in India who still revere Mother Teresa".
Mathai urged Modi to intervene and condemn the RSS chief's statement, as India cannot afford to be pulled down in its development agenda by those attempting to sow seeds of discord.
PM Modi Visit: PM Modi will give a gift to Gujarat today, and will inaugurate Chess Olympiad in Chennai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his home state Gujarat and the southern state of Tamil Nadu today and tomorrow. During this, many development projects will be inaugurated and the foundation
'Workers Needs trampled in Microsoft-Nokia Deal'
Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) The Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) Thursday said commercial interests have trampled over genuine needs of workers of Nokia India mobile phone factory near here.In a
12,000 flights canceled due to snow storm in America: power failure in many cities, 8 feet of snow in New York… 34 deaths
The blizzard that came before Christmas in America continues to wreak havoc. This storm, which has made life difficult for more than 20 crore people in the country, is being called Bomb Cyclone. 34
Rajasthan Coal Crisis: CM Ashok Gehlot again pleaded with Sonia Gandhi regarding the problem of coal, know what is the matter
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has once again raised the issue of the coal problem with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to Sonia Gandhi for the
The horrific scene of Hathras in pictures: People kept searching for their loved ones in the pile of dead bodies... dead bodies were scattered all around
27 bodies reached the district headquarters one after the other in the stampede after the Satsang in Sikandrarao area of Hathras district. By Wednesday morning, most of the 124 people who died
Bids opened for captive port in Udangudi power project
Chennai, March 20 (IANS) The bids for a captive port for handling coal for the proposed Udangudi thermal power project were opened on March 19 and work would start soon, said Tamil Nadu's minister
Heavy rains and landslides cause heavy damage to Jammu and Himachal. Thousands of trucks carrying fruits and vegetables are stranded due to the closure of the highway
This time the monsoon is raining like a havoc. From the mountains to the plains, the rain has disrupted life. Traffic has come to a standstill. The Meteorological Department also says that the period
India, Bangladesh to increase joint patrolling
New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) India and Bangladesh have agreed to increase cooperation in border management through increased joint patrolling and deployment of troops in unguarded border areas,
Delhi Chunav 2025: 'Aam Aadmi Party has ruined Delhi', AIMIM's Tahir Hussain starts election campaign
Tahir Hussain, accused in the 2020 riots and candidate from the Mustafabad seat of Asaduddin Owaisi's party AIMIM, started campaigning in the area after coming out of jail on custody parole.
PM Modi Gujarat Visit: PM Modi will be on a visit to Gujarat tomorrow, will review the National Marine Heritage Complex
PM Modi will be visiting Gujarat on September 20th. This will be a one-day visit. On Saturday, PM Modi will first arrive in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, where he will hold a road show at around 10 am.
