Disapproving the remarks made by Rashtriya Swayamswevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat associating Mother Teresa’s objective while serving the poor as conversion, close associate of Mother Teresa and spokesperson of Missionaries of Charity Sunita Kumar said that it is wrong to drag her name in discourse of religious conversion.
“No one is going to believe what they (RSS) said. Mother Teresa was above religion. All what Mother worked for was service of humanity and peace in society. There is no scope for any kind of religious conversion in Missionaries of Charity,” Ms. Kumar told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Ms. Kumar said that after Mother Teresa walked out the Loreto Convent, she set up Missionaries of Charity to work for the poor. “Now it is unfortunate and sad that she is accused of conversion,” she added.
She also recounted how Mother Teresa walked on the streets of the city after the 1992 riots following the demolition of Babri Masjid to ensure peace.
Ms. Kumar, who was associated with Mother Teresa for more than three decades before she died, said that her only aim was humanitarian work and service to the poor.
Referring to her association with Mother Teresa, she said that she is a Sikh by faith and that never came in the way in working with her working with Mother.
“In fact, there are regular all faith meeting at the Missionaries of Charity, you walk into any centre of Missionaries and you will find peace” she said.
Mother Teresa, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979, died on September 5, 1997. She is now referred Blessed Teresa of Calcutta — a step away from being declared a saint, Ms. Kumar added.
