New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry said on Monday it did not freeze any bank accounts of Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.
"State Bank of India has informed that Missionaries of Charity itself sent a request to SBI to freeze its accounts," the Home Ministry said in a statement.
The Home Ministry also said the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) renewal application of Missionaries of Charity was refused on December 25 for not meeting eligibility conditions.
"The renewal application under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) for the renewal of FCRA registration of Missionaries of Charity (MoC) was refused on December 25, 2021, for not meeting the eligibility conditions under FCRA 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRR) 2011," the statement said.
"No request/revision application has been received from Missionaries of Charity (MoC) for review of this refusal of renewal," it further said.
The Missionaries of Charity's registration under the FCRA was valid up to October 31, 2021. The Centre said the validity was subsequently extended up to December 31, 2021.
"However, while considering the MoC's renewal application, some adverse inputs were noticed. In consideration of these inputs on record, the renewal application of MoC was not approved," the statement said.
Also Read: Centre Has Frozen Bank Accounts Of Mother Teresa's Missionaries Of Charity: Mamata Banerjee
The Missionaries of Charity clarified that the Home Ministry had not ordered freezing of its accounts.
"We have been informed that our FCRA renewal application has not been accepted. Therefore, as a measure to ensure there is no lapse, we have asked our centres not to operate any of the FC accounts until the matter is resolved," the organisation said.
What Mamata Banerjee Claimed
The Centre released a statement after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the Centre had blocked all bank accounts of the Missionaries of Charity.
Banerjee stated that all 22,000 patients and personnel were left without food and medications, adding that "humanitarian efforts must not be jeopardised."
"Shocked to hear that on Christmas, Union Ministry FROZE ALL BANK ACCOUNTS of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in India! Their 22,000 patients & employees have been left without food and medicines. While the law is paramount, humanitarian efforts must not be compromised," Mamata Banerjee tweeted on Monday.
The Missionaries of Charity, which was started by Mother Teresa, has its headquarters in Kolkata.
War Of Words Between BJP, Opposition Parties
The issue led to a political slugfest, with BJP's Amit Malviya saying, "Poorly informed Mamata Banerjee gets it wrong, like always. This is what happens when you have an eye on Goa polls and religious polarisation and not governance is the only calling card. TMC's Bengal model of appeasement has limited appeal, won't work in rest of India."
"Missionaries of Charity issues a statement and it is exactly what the Ministry of Home Affairs has said. If the two are on the same page then whose propaganda is Mamata Banerjee peddling? Or is it a deliberate devious attempt to spread misinformation?" Malviya asked in another tweet.
Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Anand Sharma expressed shock at the Centre's action.
"This is indeed shocking. When Mother Teresa wins a Nobel Prize, India rejoices. When her organisation serves the poor and destitute, the government cuts off their funding. Disgraceful," Tharoor wrote on Twitter.
Anand Sharma demanded the prime minister's intervention in the matter and an immediate reversal of the decision.
"Shocked at the Government's action of freezing the accounts of Missionaries of Charity. Condemning the cruel, insensitive and inhuman decision which will hurt the ailing and suffering poor the most," Anand Sharma tweeted.
Rajya Sabha MP of the Trinamool Congress Derek O'Brien accused the Centre of carrying out a "hit job" on the Missionaries of Charity and resorting to "spin doctoring and a cover-up".
(With PTI Inputs)