BJP MP from Mandsaur Sudhir Gupta has accused Mother Teresa of converting children to Christianity.
Gupta accused her of converting 'innocent children' in the name of serving the poor. "When a saint gives something then he doesn't take anything in return then why Mother Teresa accepted so much of awards," he questioned.
The BJP leader went on to say that his stand was clear that she was not a saint. Gupta while talking to the media persons in Mandsaur on Tuesday said that Mother Teresa helped the poor and the needy, which is something many do. "She gets credit for it. Many social reformers didn't get even name and fame. But after helping the poor, she took their religion from them," he alleged. Gupta further said that that it was a 'bada apradh' (big crime). "The children are innocent. At least, if they were adult and above 18 years of age, they could be given the option to change a religion", he said.
He alleged that Mother Teresa used to convert children under the cover of serving the poor. He gave reference of some other Hindus including social workers like Baba Amte, claiming that they did selfless work. Mother Teresa was canonized by the Pope recently in the Vatican. Now she is officially a saint for the Catholics.
Mother Teresa was renowned for her charity and work among the ailing and the lepers, whom others didn't feed or avoided going close to them. The BJP hasn't officially issued any statement after Gupta's comments.