National

Who Is Telling The Truth?

The pressure being brought to bear on Mother Teresa seems to be having an effect. By claiming, at a Press conference in Calcutta on November 24, that she had not demanded reservations for Dalit Christians, she seems to be contradicting what she said

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Who Is Telling The Truth?
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What is your reaction to the controversy surrounding your support of the Dalit Christian cause?

I don't know why all these issues are being raised now. We are all children of God and were created to love one another and show tolerance towards all.

Are the Christians of SC origin among them?

Yes. But I am for alleviating the suffering of the oppressed of all communities, whatever their faith.

So all benefits, including reservations, should be extended to them?

Yes. They are all God's children. We should do everything to help the poor of all communities.

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But it has been reported that you joined a dharna at Delhi aimed specifically at demanding the extension of reservations to Dalit Christians.

I never did all that. I only prayed for love and peace and for thepoorest among the poor. It was only when I reached Delhi that I was told exactly what the issue was.

So you did not know of it beforehand.

No. I just went there and saw all my brothers and sisters at a prayer meeting and joined them. I have spent 45 years in the service of the poor. I have never shown any favouritism. There is not even one per cent of difference in my attitude towards Dalit Christians because of their faith. We allcome from the same Father and love begins at home. But I have the same concern for the poorest of the poor of all religions.

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THEChurch, on the other hand, contradicts Mother Teresa on two other points at issue. "She was clearly told that she wouldbe coming for a special prayer session to ensure an auspicious beginning for the relay hunger-fast to press for equal justice for Dalit Christians," said Brother Jose Daniel, convenor of the action committee for SC Christians. "We made it very clear that this was the entire programme. As for the question of her joining a dharna, we ensured that the prayer was held outside the precincts of the cathedral and we did not ask her to join the dharna. But the entire programme, including the prayer, was held at the same shamiana and it is certainly not our fault that her photograph was clicked there."

Others in the upper echelons of the clergy, however, remaintight-lipped officially and only speak of a "communication gap". Though they make no bones, in private conversations, about the fact that certain "vested interests want the Mother to confine herself to charitable causes".

Mother Teresa's reaction to the controversy has posed more questions than it has settled. The most obvious of which is, can both she and the Church be telling the truth?

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