Hindu anti Christian feeling is so strong in India there appears to be some kind of attempted smear campaign against Mother Teresa beginning
— Tony McLean ™️ (@DorvalTony) February 24, 2015
Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Hindu nationalist RSS organization, said on Monday that Mother Teresa’s prime motive in serving the poor was converting them to Christianity.
Speaking at a function for an NGO in the village of Bharatpur, Bhagwat said, “It’s good to work for a cause with selfless intentions. But Mother Teresa’s work had ulterior motive, which was to convert the person who was being served to Christianity.” He added, “In the name of service, religious conversions were made. This was followed by other institutes, too.”
Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic sister, was the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, a religious and charitable organization that provides home, food, medical and hospice care for the poorest of the poor in India and 132 other countries around the world.
At the same event, former director general of Border Security Force Prakash Singh also complained about Mother Teresa.
“There are many other organizations that have done far more good work than her. But Christians, with the help of media were able to publicize their work,” said Singh.
The comments unleashed a Twitter storm of anger directed at Mother Teresa:
"@TheTweetOfGod: I wonder how Mother Teresa is doing down in hell." Brutal
— Yo Duh Babe (@chuck07j) February 24, 2015
"I'm very skeptical of anyone who wants to 'help others' there's always some sort of hidden agenda" "100% mother Teresa loved being famous"😂
— andrea (@itsANDREAx) February 24, 2015
There is nothing new in it. Not only RSS but many have been questioning Mother Teresa's intentions for years.
— Shiv Mishra (@shivkmishr) February 24, 2015
@Swamy39 Also The Mother Teresa Organisation did Organs Trade with the Street Poor People. She helped herself for monies! She is rather Evil
— University Of Hindus (@SanskritVarsity) February 24, 2015
In August, Bhagwat stirred up religious tensions in the Hindu-majority country by announcing, “The entire world knows that the people who live in India are Hindus. Just as the Germans have Germany, the English have England, and Americans have America. … All the people of this country are Hindus,” Bhagwat said.
Since then, there have been several attacks on Christian churches in India. In January the only Christian church in an Indian village in Telangana state was burned down, reportedly by Hindu supremacists.
Archbishop Anil JT Couto of New Delhi told NDTV, “A clear pattern of orchestrated attacks is emerging as more and more churches are targeted, vandalised and set on fire.” He said, “This is very disturbing and we request the authorities to take adequate measures to bring to book the miscreants who are threatening to weaken the social fabric of this great nation.”
But Vikjay Paul at Chakra News echoed Bhagwat’s call for Hindu nationalism. He said Christian humanitarian workers take advantage of the poor and convert them through “gradual force” by luring them with food and the promise of education. Paul said:
As in other countries such as Pakistan or Bangladesh with Muslim majorities, who sustain and fight for their religion, why can’t Hindus do the same for their countries religion without getting criticism from fellow Hindus? How has a country’s majority, including the government become so blind to such appalling act’s that hinder and take advantage of religious freedom?
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a self-avowed Hindu nationalist — and lifelong member of the RSS — has been criticized for not doing enough to protect the Christian minority in his country.
Supporters of Mother Teresa rushed in to defend her on Twitter:
Mother Teresa in slums days when RSS called these people untouchables pic.twitter.com/CiygsMTfQp"
— Supari Journalist (@sonykalloor) February 24, 2015
Mother Teresa being persecuted by the press and naysayers. No surprise to Evangelical Christians or Catholics.
We still win! #JesusisLord
— ❤ Dr Melinda (Mendy) Thomas (@drmelindafaith) February 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/calmchor/status/570035225805205504
The attack on mother teresa is not just against religion but against goodness its a slander to speak about service to the dying desolate
— lygia (@nickomelo) February 24, 2015
You say Mother Teresa had conversion in her mind? I'd say, you might not be completely wrong!
— 🌵BrainFag (@j_cheryl) February 24, 2015
Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, & always start with the person nearest to you. ~Mother Teresa
— Sharnicka💋 (@PrettiDymndz) February 24, 2015
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