Two Keralite nuns' arrest triggers protests in Kerala, Delhi

Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preeta Mary were arrested on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking and forced conversion.

The arrest of two Catholic nuns, hailing from Kerala, in the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion triggered protests in Kerala and New Delhi on Monday.

According to The Hindu, Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preeta Mary were arrested on Friday on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking and forced conversion at the Durg Railway station.

Members of Parliament from both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala staged protests outside Parliament, denouncing the arrest of nuns. Both LDF and UDF MPs accused the Chhattisgarh Police of acting on "trumped-up" charges, possibly under pressure from groups like the Bajrang Dal.

As per the report, UDF MPs held placards denouncing the “Hindu right-wing” Bajrang Dal’s “coercive role” in the arrest of the nuns 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.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian was quoted by The Hindu 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’s (BJP) 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 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai demanding the immediate release of the nuns.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding justice for the “unfairly incarcerated” nuns, the report added.

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 was quoted by The Hindu as saying.

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, the report added.

State General Education Minister V. Sivankutty dared Church leaders to take their protests to PM 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 was quoted in the report as saying.

Kerala Excise Minister M. B. Rajesh was quoted as saying 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, the report added.