Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has alleged that conversion to Christianity was the basic objective of Mother Teresa’s service to the poor.

Bhagwat was inaugurating an orphanage and women’s home at Bharatpur, Rajasthan on Monday. His comment came only a few days after prime minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for religious freedom and said that his government will ensure complete freedom of faith and that everyone has complete freedom to follow any religion of their own choice.

Bhagwat said, “Here we will not provide service like that rendered by Mother Teresa. It is possible that her kind of work was good but there was a motive behind that service. It was to convert those she served to Christianity. Someone wants to convert others to Christianity, that is another thing, but to do it under the garb of social service is to devalue that service. Here, nothing like that will happen. In our country, social service is done like this, selflessly, completely selflessly.”

However, the RSS has denied the comment in its series of tweets.

Media reporting wrongly. At Bharatpur Ex DG BSF said that Mother Teresa did Seva with motive of conversion.

— RSS (@RSSorg) February 23, 2015

To goad people to convert in the name of 'seva' is an affront to the service being done. Dr Bhagwat @Bharatpur

— RSS (@RSSorg) February 24, 2015

When 'seva' is done nothing is expected in return expect the wellbeing of the affected. Dr Bhagwat @Bharatpur

— RSS (@RSSorg) February 24, 2015

Bhagwat’s comment drew strong reactions from all corners.

Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal in his early morning tweet on Tuesday said, “I worked wid Mother Teresa for a few months at Nirmal Hriday ashram in Kolkata. She was a noble soul. Pl spare her.”

I worked wid Mother Teresa for a few months at Nirmal Hriday ashram in Kolkata. She was a noble soul. Pl spare her.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 24, 2015

Reacting to the RSS chief's comment, an NDTV report quoted Sunita Kumar, spokesperson, Missionaries of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa),  "We will do what Mother Teresa taught us: pray for him."

Narendra Modi's boss Mohan Bhagwat of RSS humiliates the legendary Mother Teresa, alleging conversion. Repugnant, repulsive, reprehensible

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) February 23, 2015

Now what will the pinstripe suit say to the khaki shorts about his views on Mother Teresa #condemn

— Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) February 23, 2015