Anyone criticising Mother Teresa either stupid or envious: Jeffrey Archer

Brushing off RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on Mother Teresa, celebrated British author Jeffrey Archer on Saturday said anyone who is foolish enough to criticise the Nobel laureate is either "envious" or "stupid".

"Anyone who is stupid enough to criticise this great lady is either envious or stupid. I dismiss it," Archer told IANS here when quizzed on the remarks which hit headlines across the globe.

The best-selling author is in India to launch his book "Mightier Than The Sword", the fifth in the Clifton Chronicle series of books.

"I read that (report on comments) in England. It was all reported in England. There are many people who don't like Winston Churchill (Britain's wartime prime minister), many don't like (former prime minister) Margaret Thatcher.That is the deal, part of the deal when you are aiming for the very top," he said.

The 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less' and 'Kane and Abel' writer said he was "very flattered" when Mother Teresa requested him to set up a hostel for people with AIDS in London around 20 years ago.

Archer is scheduled to meet Mother Teresa's close associate and Missionaries of Charity spokesperson Sunita Kumar on Saturday. The Charity is a congregation established by the Mother.

He also recalled his son's connection with Mother Teresa.

"When my son was at university he decided to do a year of service before he did a job and he came here (to Kolkata) and worked for Mother Teresa ," he said, adding the Kumars are "dear friends."

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Bhagwat has been receiving flak after saying that the Nobel laureate's service to the poor was aimed at converting them to Christianity.
British author Jeffrey Archer on Saturday said the ban on airing of the BBC documentary on the December 16, 2012 gang-rape was not good in a democratic country like India.

"It is not a good thing in a democracy (to ban) and things have changed so much...," Archer told IANS here in response to a question on whether it was right for India to put a curb on the documentary.

Referring to the liberalisation of women in modern India, he said it came down to what the present generation felt on the ban.

"Its much more what you think. Its your country and if you feel strongly you must make a protest," he said.

Archer, former politician, is in India to launch his book "Mightier Than The Sword", the fifth in the Clifton Chronicle series of books.

"Basically if you ban something, everybody wants to see it. I wish they would ban my book because then everybody wants to have it," he said, adding he has not seen the controversial documentary.

The documentary "India's Daughter", by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, has triggered an uproar over the interview of Mukesh Singh, one of the six convicts of the December 16, 2012 gang rape on a moving bus in Delhi.

Mukesh Singh, in the documentary, has blamed the 23-year-old paramedical student for the fatal sexual assault on her.