Christians condemn Swamy’s remarks against Teresa

Visakhapatnam: Christian organisations in the State strongly condemned the remarks made by Paripoornananda Swamy against Mother Teresa in an interview with a Telugu channel.

In a statement here on Thursday, State Christian Leaders Forum president Oliver Rayi said that he would seek President of India’s intervention in this regard if necessary.

Highlights:

• Christian Leaders Forum president Oliver Rayi says he will seek President of India’s intervention and sought immediate apology from him
• Says the remarks will create unrest among the communities and fuel hatred

He said Christians all over the state have expressed their displeasure with the Swamy’s remarks and sought an immediate apology from him.

Rayi said such remarks showed the country in bad light in the global humanitarian aid sector hurting the sentiments of Christians and aid workers. The remarks would create unrest among the communities and fuel hatred.

He said the Swamy in an agitated mood asked why Mother Teresa chose India and no other poor Christian countries. He should himself answer why he was going to Western countries spreading Hinduism when he failed to strengthen it here in India itself.

He said the Christian community stressed that if not for Mother Theresa, the untouchables would have remained untouchable even today.

The Swamy also maligned the Mother by claiming he had evidence of 50,000 women trafficked illegally to various countries. Rayi challenged why not even one person came forward to file a complaint or given a statement. Rayi said that the seer made a fool of himself by asking why the Mother was conferred with Bharat Ratna.

He should have raised his voice at the time of conferment. Rayi said every legal angle is being pursued and if Swamy did not apologise within a week.