Christians, opposition parties slam arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh

Thiruvananthapuram: The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Reverend Andrews Thazhath—who is also the Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur—on Monday condemned the Chhattisgarh Police for the arrest of two nuns from Kerala and a man, following allegations of human trafficking and religious conversion made by Bajrang Dal activists.

“This has happened in a country where freedom of religion is allowed and hence this act should be seen very seriously. The nuns were attacked by the Bajrang Dal activists, and none should forget that nuns always stand and work for the uplift of the downtrodden,” said Thazhath.

“Irrespective of whoever governs the country, the freedom of religion should be protected and upheld. Incidentally, across the country at some places, Christians are living in a state of fear. We have already brought this to the attention of our Prime Minister Modi,” he added.

On Monday, lawmakers from Kerala—barring those from the BJP—raised the issue in Parliament through a notice for an adjournment motion, but it was disallowed. Thazhath, however, expressed gratitude to the MPs for bringing attention to the matter.

The two arrested nuns, Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, belong to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, a congregation under the Syro-Malabar Church in Alappuzha district. They were working at a hospital in Agra.

According to reports, on Saturday the nuns and a man named Sukhman Mandavi were accompanying three women from Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh to Agra, where they had been offered jobs as kitchen helpers at a convent. At the railway station, the group was confronted by Bajrang Dal activists, and police soon arrived at the scene. The nuns and the man were taken into custody and later remanded to judicial custody by a local court.

Relatives of the nuns have expressed shock over their arrest.

“This should not be seen as a one-off incident, as we have been told that things do not augur well now in certain places in North India,” said the family.

The CPI-M state secretariat also issued a statement condemning the actions of the Chhattisgarh Police and railway officials, accusing them of acting at the behest of Bajrang Dal activists.

“This issue should not just be seen as a Christian issue but also a gross violation of the Constitution, as this is nothing but an intrusion on minority rights. There is every right not just to practice religion but also propagate it. Grave charges have been slapped on the arrested—this is in no way acceptable,” the CPI-M said.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said he had spoken to the elderly parents of one of the nuns.

“This incident is not just a one-off incident, as incidents of attacking Christian nuns and priests in several states in North India are increasing by the day. It has come to a stage when Christian priests and nuns cannot even wear their official dress for fear of being attacked. This has to end quickly and authorities have to do the needful,” said Satheesan.

Union Minister of State for Fisheries, George Kurian, refrained from commenting.

“Since the matter is sub judice and I am a Minister, I would not make any comment on the issue,” he said.

Kerala BJP vice-president Shone George commented briefly on the case.

“I will say that let the court take the call, and if the nuns are innocent, we have made all arrangements to ensure they are safely taken back to their respective places.”