Mumbai: Defending Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks about Mother Teresa, the Shiv Sena today said he had spoken the "bitter truth".
"The objective of missionaries who came to India has been to convert people here to Christianity," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna said.
"Muslims forced religious conversions with sword... Christians did it with money and in the guise of service," it alleged.
"Bhagwat has done national service by speaking the truth on what missionaries do," the Sena said.
"We have respect for the work Mother Teresa did. Several social figures have done such service. However they did not carry out religious conversions," it said.
"What the RSS chief has said will give boost to the 'ghar wapasi' campaign. We congratulate him," the Sena said, referring to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's programme to 'reconvert' people into Hinduism.
Mr Bhagwat has come under fierce attack from Christian institutions and non-BJP parties over his remarks.