Sunday, July 31, 2011

Government u-turn: Bangalore "Mother Teresa" can stay in India

The "Mother Teresa" of Bangalore will remain with her leprosy sufferers in India: the Indian Minister of the Interior P. Chidambaran yesterday renewed Sister Jacqueline Jean McEwan’s visa "indefinitely". 

At the news, the nun said she was "overjoyed" to be able to stay with her patients, from whom she has cared for 29 years. 

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has thanked the Government Minister for having responded to the complaints of the Christian minority and patients at the Sumnahalli Society, where the religious works.

Sister Jean was to leave the country within a month, because the government had denied the annual renewal of her visa. 

Immediate reactions of the GCIC and Fr. George Kannanthanam, director of the centre where the English missionary works.

Minister Chidambaran admitted that the warning to leave India issued by the Foreign Regional Registration Office (Frro), was a mistake, perhaps caused by the lack of some documents.