Shiv Sena defends RSS chief's Mother Teresa remarks

Mumbai, Feb 25: Defending RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks about Mother Teresa, Shiv Sena on Wednesday said he had spoken the "bitter truth".

"The objective of missionaries who came to India has been to convert people here to Christianity," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

"Muslims forced religious conversions with sword. Christians did it with money and in the guise of service," it alleged.

"Bhagwat has done national service by speaking the truth on what missionaries do," the Sena said.

"We have respect for the work mother Teresa did. Several social figures have done such service. However they did not carry out religious conversions," it said.

"What the RSS chief has said will give boost to the 'ghar wapasi' campaign. We congratulate him," the Sena said referring to VHP's programme to "reconvert" people into Hinduism.

Bhagwat has come under fierce attack from Christian institutions and non-BJP parties for his controversial remarks that conversion to Christianity was the main objective behind Mother Teresa's service to the poor.

PTI