Why Did CBCI and Opposition Parties Condemn the Arrest of Two Nuns by Chhattisgarh Police?

Thiruvananthapuram, July 28 (NationPress) The president of the Catholics Bishop Conference of India (CBCI), Reverend Andrews Thazhath, who also serves as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur, expressed strong disapproval of the Chhattisgarh Police for detaining two nuns from Kerala along with a man, under allegations of human trafficking and religious conversion linked to the Bajrang Dal.

“This incident occurs in a nation where religious freedom is a fundamental right, and thus, it must be treated with utmost seriousness. The nuns were assaulted by activists of the Bajrang Dal, and we should remember that nuns consistently advocate for the welfare of the underprivileged,” stated Thazhath.

“Regardless of the government in power, the freedom of religion must be safeguarded. Unfortunately, Christians in various regions are living in fear. We have already raised this concern with our Prime Minister Modi,” Thazhath added.

On Monday, legislators from Kerala, excluding the BJP, highlighted the nuns' harassment and subsequent arrest through a notice for an adjournment motion, which was ultimately rejected.

Thazhath, however, expressed gratitude to the lawmakers for bringing this matter before Parliament.

The detained nuns, Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, are affiliated with the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, a congregation belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church in Alappuzha district, and were serving at a hospital in Agra.

On Saturday, the two nuns and a man named Sukhman Mandavi were escorting three women from Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh to Agra, where they were offered positions as kitchen helpers at a convent.

They were approached at the railway station by Bajrang Dal activists, with the police quickly arriving on the scene.

Both nuns and the man were subsequently arrested and later presented in a local court, which ordered their judicial custody.

Close relatives of the nuns expressed shock over the unjust imprisonment of the nuns, whose primary intention was to assist underprivileged girls.

“This should not be perceived as an isolated incident, as we have been informed that the situation is deteriorating in certain areas of North India,” remarked the nuns' family.

The CPI-M state secretariat condemned the Chhattisgarh Police and railway officials, accusing them of succumbing to the pressure from Bajrang Dal activists.

“This situation must not be regarded merely as a Christian issue; it represents a significant violation of the Constitution, reflecting an infringement upon minority rights. Individuals have the right not only to practice their faith but also to promote it. The serious charges against the arrested individuals are completely unacceptable,” the CPI-M statement emphasized.

Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, mentioned that he recently spoke with the elderly parents of one of the detained nuns.

“This incident is not isolated; attacks on Christian nuns and priests are escalating across various states in North India. It has reached a point where Christian clergy cannot even wear their religious attire due to fear of assault. This must come to an end swiftly, and the authorities must take appropriate action,” stated Satheesan.

Union Minister of State for Fisheries, George Kurian, refrained from commenting on the matter, citing its sub judice status.

Kerala's BJP Vice-President, Shone George, remarked, “Let the court decide, and if the nuns are innocent, we have made all necessary arrangements to ensure their safe return to their homes.”