Govt distances itself from Mohan Bhagwat's remark

New Delhi/ Jaipur, Feb 25: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government on Tuesday distanced itself from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s controversial remarks on Mother Teresa.

The remarks lent evidence to the Opposition and Christian bodies to put the Centre back in the dock barely a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned forced conversion and religion linked violence.

Reports stated that Bhagwat told a gathering in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, that Mother Teresa's service to the poor was with the intention of conversion to Christianity. The RSS, however, denied reports about their chief casting aspersion on Mother Teresa’s charitable work.

“The media reported wrongly. At Bharatpur, ex-DG of the BSF (Prakash Singh) said that Mother Teresa did seva with motive of conversion. In reply Bhagavatji said ‘let Mother Teresa know her motive for seva, we do seva without expecting any returns,” RSS senior functionary M Vaidya stated. Vaidya quoted RSS chief as saying that “when seva is done, nothing is expected in return except the well being of the affected.” Mother Teresa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950. She died in 1997 in Kolkata and was beatified as the “Blessed Teresa of Calcutta” in 2003

“He is misinformed. It should be absolutely clear that conversion was not going on when Mother was there, nor is it going on now. The whole motive is to serve the poor selflessly, bring joy and dignity into their lives,” Sunita Kumar, spokesperson of the Missionaries of Charity, told a news agency in Kolkata.

Responding to the issue raised during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha by Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, which was expunged by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said: “The government has nothing to do with such statements. Private persons have a right to speak outside.”

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot on Tuesday said that the Sangh outfit is itself engaged in conversions and are dividing society on communal lines. “Mohan Bhagwat’s

statement on Mother Teresa is very unfortunate. The RSS has projected itself as a social and cultural organisation but it has been engaging in conversions,” he said.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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