Mother Teresa or Atal? BJP sees design, Congress sees dignity

The Jharkhand government’s decision to rename Atal Mohalla Clinics as Mother Teresa Clinics has triggered a sharp political controversy, with the opposition BJP accusing the Hemant Soren-led administration of promoting religious conversion under the guise of healthcare, while the ruling alliance has defended the move as a rightful tribute to one of the world’s most respected humanitarians.

Addressing a press conference in Ranchi on Saturday, senior BJP leader and former Leader of the Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri strongly criticised the name change, calling it a “deliberate and dangerous” attempt to undermine the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whose leadership the state of Jharkhand was created in 2000. Bauri alleged that the renaming of clinics was “not merely cosmetic”, but part of “a well-crafted conspiracy to advance conversion activities” under state patronage.

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While acknowledging Mother Teresa’s service to the poor and ill, Bauri pointed to longstanding allegations, including child trafficking and religious proselytisation, against some institutions associated with her name. “We respect her compassion, but it is also a fact that her institutions have faced serious charges. Using her name for public health institutions in Jharkhand, where conversion remains a deeply sensitive issue, is irresponsible,” he said.

Bauri further claimed that the decision reflects the influence of “certain ideological forces” within the ruling alliance and challenged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to publicly defend the move. “If the government stands by its decision, let the Chief Minister say so on record. Otherwise, it will be viewed as an act done quietly and without democratic accountability,” he said, adding that the BJP would oppose the move both inside and outside the Assembly.

In a strongly worded counter, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary and Media In-charge Rakesh Sinha accused the BJP of communalising a respectful gesture. He said naming the clinics after Mother Teresa—who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Bharat Ratna—was a mark of honour for her tireless service to leprosy patients, orphans, and the destitute, and had nothing to do with religion or conversion.

Sinha alleged that the BJP was engaging in “selective symbolism” and questioned its own record on commemorating Vajpayee. “They had the opportunity for nearly a decade to launch major schemes in Atal Ji’s name but did little beyond token gestures. Now they are politicising a naming decision rooted in humanitarian values,” he said.

He further criticised the BJP’s past record of renaming public institutions and landmarks, stating, “The same party that renamed the Sardar Patel Stadium after the sitting Prime Minister is now sermonising on legacy and respect. Their hypocrisy is evident.”

The Atal Mohalla Clinics were launched by the previous BJP-led government under Chief Minister Raghubar Das as community-based urban health centres aimed at underserved populations. The Soren government has neither issued a detailed statement on the rationale behind the renaming nor clarified whether the clinics will now be managed by voluntary or faith-based organisations.