Visakhapatnam: A Christian leader in Andhra Pradesh has given a Hindu leader one week to apologize for his remarks against Saint Mother Teresa.
Oliver Rayi, president of Andhra Pradesh Christian Leaders Forum, sought an immediate apology from Paripoornananda Swamy, who claimed to have evidence to show that the founder of Missionaries of Charity congregation had trafficked around 50,000 women illegally to various countries. The swamy made the allegation during an interview with a Telugu television channel a few days ago.
The seer also questioned why Mother Teresa had chosen India and no other poor Christian country to base her activities.
Rayi issued a statement on September 28 condemning the swamy’s remarks and said that he would seek the Indian president intervention if necessary to elicit apology from the Hindu seer, reports thehansindia.com.
The Christian leader said Christians all over the state have expressed their displeasure with the remarks. Such remarks, he added, would create unrest among various communities and fuel hatred in the country.
They also hurt the sentiments of Christians and aid workers around the world that projected India in bad light in the global humanitarian aid sector, he added.
The remarks would also create unrest among the communities and fuel hatred.
Rayi wants the Hindu seer to answer why he went to Western countries to spread Hinduism when he failed to strengthen the religious in India.
He said the former untouchables would have remained outcast today if not for Mother Teresa.
About human trafficking, Rayi asked why no one has come forward to file a complaint or given a statement. The Hindu seer made a fool of himself by asking why the Mother was conferred with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, the Christian leader remarked.
He should have raised his voice at the time of conferment. Rayi said his forum pursues every legal angle for action if the swamy failed to apologize within a week.