Protests erupt in Kerala, Delhi over arrest of Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh
The protests also seemed to assume a politically bipartisan character with ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs from Kerala protesting simultaneously outside Parliament, denouncing the 'minority-hate-fuelled arrest of the nuns on 'trumped up' charges.
UDF MPs held placards denouncing the 'Hindu right-wing' Bajrang Dal's 'coercive role' in the arrest of Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preeta Mary of the order of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI).
They said 'Sangh Parivar activists had held a kangaroo court' at the railway station, falsely accusing the nuns of attempting to spirit away three women, including an Adivasi, to Agra for conversion to Christianity.
The UDF and the LDF accused the Chhattisgarh police of towing the Bajrang Dal line meekly by sending the sisters into judicial remand.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian told reporters in New Delhi that the matter was still sub judice and he could not risk hazarding an opinion until the court processes the nuns' arrest. He stated that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was working closely with the Central and Chhattisgarh governments, as well as the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), to secure the early release of the nuns.
Notice in Parliament
LDF's Rajya Sabha member John Brittas, MP, moved a notice in the Upper House, demanding an adjournment debate on the 'unjust' arrests. He also wrote to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, demanding the immediate release of the nuns.
Closer home, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding justice for the 'unfairly incarcerated' nuns.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan called on the parents of Sister Preeta Mary at their house in Elavoor Parish near Angamaly in Ernakulam. He termed the arrests 'arbitrary and fascist.'
'Christian nuns and priests are scared even to wear their habits in BJP-ruled States. The pervasive atmosphere of persecution by State-backed Sangh Parivar outfits constrains them from overtly celebrating Christmas and Easter. Prayers are held in secrecy for the laity's safety,' he said.
Mr. Satheesan termed the BJP in Kerala 'a wolf in a sheep's clothing'.
Meanwhile, Deepika, the mouthpiece of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala, wrote that there was 'a dichotomy' between the BJP's words and actions.
The party frequently extends invitations to Christians in Kerala. At the same time, it allows Sangh Parivar groups to persecute them in BJP-ruled States, it claimed.
The newspaper claimed that after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, the attacks against Christians had multiplied.
Yuhanon Mar Meletius, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Syrian Church, observed somewhat drily on social media that another round of honouring (Church leaders) in New Delhi would negate the need for protests, obliquely harking back to Mr. Modi's meeting with prelates, including from Kerala, on Easter Day in 2023.
State General Education Minister V. Sivankutty dared Church leaders to take their protests to Mr. Modi's doorstep and alleged that no prelate had denounced the nuns' arrests. 'Prayers alone won't redeem the anti-minority atmosphere precipitated by the Sangh Parivar in the country', he added.
Kerala Excise Minister M. B. Rajesh said that some sections were under the false belief that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was their defender. 'They should realise that the RSS doctrine categorises Muslims, Christians and communists as fifth columnists, and hence the enemy within. It's not too late for them to open their eyes', he added.
VHP justifies arrests
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Kerala general secretary Anil Vilayil justified the arrests.
He accused the CBCI of 'obfuscating the facts of the human trafficking' case. He alleged that the women travelling with nuns included an underage tribal woman.
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