Controversy broke out the Monday after It was alleged that Mother Teresa’s bank accounts Organization Missionaries of Charity has been frozen by the center. Later it turned out that the organization’s request for renewal of their Registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) has been denied by the government for failing to meet the eligibility requirements as some “negative inputs” were received. As a result, the organization does not maintain its foreign currency accounts.
The issue has become the center of a political struggle between the ruling BJP and the opposition TMC. While the TMC claims the center is targeting Christian institutions, the BJP claims the opposition is politicizing the issue ahead of the Goa elections early next year.
India Today Consulting editor Rajdeep Sardesai brought together TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale, BJP spokeswoman Priyanka Tibrewal and Christian theologian Valson Thampu to discuss the issue.
TMC ASK GOVT’S TIMING
When asked why TMC’s Mamata Banerjee took up the issue when Missionaries of Charity themselves made it clear that their accounts had not been frozen, TMC’s Saket Gokhale said, “This is an organization that is not even remotely affiliated with politics. You work with the poorest. Everyone knows what happens to those who say something against the government. Therefore, they had to make this declaration as they did. “
He also questioned the timing of the center’s rejection of the organization’s request to renew FCRA registration, suggesting that charity missionaries were being attacked unfairly.
“The deadline for renewal is December 31st. The Home Office woke up five days before the Christmas deadline to deny your application? This means that they have no time before the deadline to submit a review request. At least tell them what the “negative influences” found are, “he said.
Saket Gokhale also said the government’s PM Cares fund is also FCRA registered, but does not appear to be subject to the same strict controls that organizations like Missionaries of Charity face.
BJP RECOMMENDS GOA SURVEY CONNECTION
Meanwhile, BJP spokeswoman Priyanka Tibrewal insisted that the government only ensure financial transparency in running organizations like Missionaries of Charity and implementing the FCRA law.
She claimed the opposition was participating in a “local provocation” to attract voters to the upcoming elections in Goa, where there is a large Catholic population.
“Why this time for this discussion just before the Goa elections? This is a community provocation to get voters. If the organization believes that injustice has been committed, it should appeal the same in the correct forum. Our system is transparent, you can go to court or file files and RTI, ”she said.
TMC’s Saket Gokhale declined the link between the Goa surveys, saying, “The Bengali CM Mamata Banerjee came up on the issue because Mother Teresa was essentially from Bengal.”
“Christians are insecure because governments are insecure”
Rajdeep Sardesai asked Valson Thampu, Christian theologian and former Rector of St. Stephen’s College, if the Christian community was being targeted at the moment or if this was being exaggerated.
Valson Thampu said: “There is certainly unrest on the ground. I think that more attention is being paid to the Christian community because after the Ayodhya issue was resolved, the Muslim community’s usefulness as an object of hate for the government has diminished. In order to consolidate the vote banks, the ruling party must increase the majority community’s feeling of insecurity. They try to deal with their own election insecurity by creating insecurity among other religious communities. “
He added, “They are spreading the story that missionaries with a lot of foreign funding are here to wipe out the Hindus. The government’s apology for not renewing the group’s FCRA license stems from “negative reports” of its functioning. According to the reports available, this relates to allegations of forcible conversion. But in all the years that the group has functioned, there is not the slightest evidence of it! “
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