Kathmandu, December 28
The Indian government has closed the bank account of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity (MOC) in West Bengal. The MOC’s account was shut down as details of right-wing Hindu groups disrupting Christmas programs in various parts of the country became public. Hindu activists, especially in Modi’s constituency in Uttar Pradesh, have turned against Christians. Legislative Assembly elections are being held in Uttar Pradesh next February.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been protesting the charity, saying that the Missionaries of Charity has provided money and free education and housing to poor Hindus and minorities by conducting religious programs in the name of charity.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that the application of the charity for the renewal of
the license has been rejected. Without a license renewal, the charity cannot legally withdraw money from abroad. The ministry said in a statement that the charity’s request for a renewal had been “unfavorable”. The ministry has not explicitly mentioned this.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that she was shocked by the news of
closure of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity bank account. When the accounts were closed, 22,000 patients and staff were deprived of food and medicine. No compromise can be made with humanitarian efforts, ‘tweeted Banerjee, a leading critic of the Modi government.
By Karuna Thapa
