Mangaluru: The Diocesan Catholic Youth Movement in association with the Youth Council Movement staged a protest in front of the DC Office here, on March 4.
Addressing the protesters, Vincent Alva Pambur said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat criticised Nobel laureate Mother Teresa who had spent her life in the service of the destitute. “Mother Teresa left her country when she was 18 years old and spent her life to provide service to the poor. Mother Teresa would take lepers who were abandoned by their families. Let anyone show us such a person in this world who can wash the wounds of lepers and treat them with love and affection. Let God forgive and transform whoever criticizes her.”
He further said, “In the entire world, we will not get another Mother Teresa. Why do people blame her? Yes, Mother Teresa has converted the Christians to be good Christians. She converted the Hindus to be good Hindus and Muslims to be good Muslims.”
He further said, “If any student studies in Christian institutions, people say that they have been converted. Hereafter Vincent Alva will not step on the dais. Our religion did not teach us to fight with others. I have great respect for the Hindu religion. I have more Hindu friends than Christian friends. I go to church once a week, I go to the temple twice a week. The Hindu Dharma does does not teach to fight but it teaches to love.”
“Recently, a young girl came to Mangaluru and delivered an inciting speech. She spoke about the need for Hindu women to keep swords with them and slit the throats of those casting evil eyes, and other reportedly objectionable matter in inflammatory language.” He questioned, “Why do girls need to hold swords in their hands? The police in the district are very efficient in providing safety to the people. On that day thousands of innocent people had gathered to listen to her. Being a Sadhvi, she had a golden opportunity to spread love to the huge crowd present. We need to pray for Sadhvi Balika Saraswati to change her mindset and to be transformed into a good human being. Another man, Shri Rama Yadapadithaya joined the group of haters and published derogatory comments on a Facebook page about Jesus. He is not fit to be called Shri Rama; instead, he should be called as Ravana Yadapadithaya. Even Mohan Bhagwat and Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat did not speak against Jesus Christ because they are aware of Jesus Christ and his life. But being a common man, Yadapadithaya commented against Jesus Christ. Let Jesus forgive Yadapadithaya and change his mind.”
While concluding he said, “We do not hate any religion. We created religion for our spiritual identity, but we are all humans. Don’t judge others because then you will not get time to serve others.”
Sunil Kumar Bajal speaking on the occasion said that Mohan Bhagwat does not have any right to criticize Mother Teresa. “In the name of conversion, the minority community has been targeted. In the name of conversion, churches have been attacked. The hidden agenda is to make Christians and Muslims as second class citizens in the country.”
He further said that if the people are disciplined and well educated and the district has 100% literacy, then it is because of the Christian institutions. “Christian institutions deliver quality education. If the dalits and the poor people are getting education, it is because of the Christian institutions.” He also said that in a Hindu school, Rs 75,000 was demanded for a seat in the lower KG class while child free seat was given in a Christian School. He also said that while giving speech, people blame that Christians convert. “If their work is to convert, why the priests and nuns have sacrificed their life and serve the poor and the downtrodden. If Christians are converting people, why their population is not increasing more than 2%?” he questioned.
He also said that the people who say that Christians are converting are very well aware of the fact that with the 2% population, Christians cannot build Christian nation nor the Muslims can build a Muslim India.
Roy Castelino addressing the protesters said, “After looking at the crowd, I can say that there is a good future for the country. The BJP government thought to make Karnataka according to the Gujarat model. But within 6 months, they attacked more than 100 churches. Is this called making Karnataka like the Gujarat Model?”
He further said that the government says that they will make India like Singapore and gave brooms in the hands of the people and made them clean in the name of ‘Swachch Bharat’. “People strongly felt that we need to clean our country and swept the BJP out of Delhi with the broom. Swachch Bharat means we need to clean the country from terrorism, corruption and communalism.” He urged the youth to take the broom of unity and clean the country of terrorism, corruption and communalism, and make it a safe place to live in. “Whatever religion we belong to, we are all Indians first.”
Youth leader of ICYM Ujire Nelson Monis said, “Do your duty and you will get its fruits. Today, Shri Ram Yadapadithaya has been arrested by the Bengaluru police and brought to Mangaluru. We have got the fruits for our work. Jesus did not get any education, but he was called a master. He did not get any certificate, but he was called a healer. He did not commit any sin, but he was crucified. In India, there are 2 crore Christians who have given one mother Teresa. Some leaders say that their community has 120 crore people. Give us one Mother Teresa from them.”
Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, Director YCS Fr Edwin Corea, President Melrida Rodrigues, Youth Leader Sheldon Crasta and others were also present.
