MARGAO: Salcete’s minority MLAs supporting the BJP regime, including the two Ministers – Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado and RDA Minister, Mickky Pacheco – have slammed RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on Mother Teresa on conversions.
While an agitated Mickky Pacheco said that what Bhagwat uttered was “rubbish”, his GVP Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva demanded an apology from the RSS Chief for making the objectionable statement. Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado has called for a government ban on people directing statements at religious leaders, while Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva said the government should initiate action against people such as Bhagwat for hurting the religious sentiments of the people.
“What Bhagwat said is utter rubbish. The statement made by the RSS Chief has no meaning when the whole world knows Mother Teresa’s contribution for the poor and the downtrodden”, Mickky said.
His Navelim counterpart Avertano Furtado echoed similar sentiments. “I am shocked and surprised over Bhagwat’s statement against Mother Teresa, who had never discriminated against any individual or community in her service to the poor. The government should ban people such as Bhagwat from speaking against religious leaders”, Avertano demanded.
Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva said the RSS Chief should apologise for his statements. “Bhagwat must have not achieved even one per cent what Mother Teresa did throughout her life. The RSS chief should realise that anyone is free to convert or embrace another religions after attaining 18 years. No one is being converted at gun point”, Bhagwat said.
Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva said the entire world knows Mother Teresa’s charity for the children living in the slums. “The government should take action against all those hurting the religious sentiments of the people”, the Velim MLA said, adding that he would convey his sentiments to the BJP-led government in the State.
