Kerala nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh for alleged conversion, Rahul Gandhi slams BJP
Kerala nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh for alleged conversion, Rahul Gandhi slams BJP
M.U.H
28/07/202544
Two Catholic nuns from Kerala, Sisters Vandana Francis and Preeti, were taken into custody at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The duo, who had reportedly arrived to pick up women coming to work at a local convent, were arrested along with a third person based on a complaint by a Bajrang Dal functionary. The complaint alleged they were forcibly converting and trafficking three girls from Narayanpur.
The arrest has triggered a political storm, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging that the nuns were targeted for their faith. “Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith, this isn’t justice, it’s BJP-RSS mob rule,” Gandhi posted on X.
Calling it part of a “dangerous pattern” of systematic persecution of minorities, he demanded their immediate release and accountability from the authorities.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also raised serious concerns over the incident. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he urged direct intervention to ensure justice. The Chief Minister pointed out that the families of the nuns have been unable to contact them since the detention and called for transparent and fair proceedings in the case.
Meanwhile, UDF MPs staged a protest in the Parliament complex on Monday. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, along with RSP MP N K Premachandran and IUML MP E T Mohammed Basheer, held placards reading “Stop attacks on minorities” in front of the Makar Dwar steps.
Venugopal said the nuns were harassed by a “violent mob” despite no wrongdoing. “This jugalbandi between Bajrang Dal goons and the police shows the BJP’s real intent towards minorities,” he wrote on X.
He also accused the ruling establishment of enabling hate crimes and wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai seeking justice and constitutional protection for minorities.
