Markandey Katju tears into Mother Teresa, gets slammed online

NEW DELHI: Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju waded into another controversy with a social media post questioning the actions of Mother Teresa, who was named a Roman Catholic saint on Sunday. In his post, Katju questioned the nun's acceptance of financial donations from questionable sources and said he too would "work among the poor and homeless" if someone gives him $10 million.

"I cannot understand all the fanfare and brouhaha about 'Mother' Teresa. In my opinion she was a reactionary semi educated fundamentalist, fanatic and fraud," began Katju's post on Facebook.

Citing various accounts and investigative reports into the functioning of Mother Teresa's organization, Missionaries of Charity, Katju said she had taken money from a number of questionable donors.

"... We have her own claim that she opened 500 convents in more than a hundred countries, all bearing the name of her own order. Is this modesty and humility?" he asked in his post.

Katju quoted the work of a number of critics, investigative reports and disillusioned volunteers to draw a sordid picture of the hospice run by the nun's organization. "But, it will be said, she did after all work among the poor and homeless. Well, I am prepared to do the same if I am given 10 million dollars," he concluded.