Conversion was behind Mother Teresa's service: Bhagwat

Stirring up yet another controversy, RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Monday blamed saint and missionary Mother Teresa for conversions in India.

At an event organised by Apna Ghar, an NGO, in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, he said Mother Teresa’s service had an objective to convert people (to Christianity). “Mother Teresa's service would have been good. But there used to be a (condition) that those who were being served should convert into Christianity. Conversion is not the issue but if it’s done in the name of service, the pious faith and integrity of service gets devaluated,” said Bhagwat.

Bhagwat has made the comments at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Christian community a week before, assured that his government would “act strongly” against fanaticism of any kind. The statement of Bhagwat has evoked strong response in political circles of Rajasthan.

“It’s very unfortunate that people like Mother Teresa and her services are being questioned in India. Despite being a foreigner, she stayed in India and devoted her entire life for humanity and mankind. No one can doubt her integrity. Such remarks are an insult to humanity and mankind,” said PCC chief Sachin Pilot.