Chhattisgarh Nuns' Arrest Sparks Protests Amid Religious Tensions

A demonstration was held in Tamil Nadu to condemn the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh. The nuns were accused of kidnapping children for religious conversion, but the children were with them with their parents' consent. The protestors said they were assaulted by Bajrang Dal members and accused the police and judiciary of not verifying the facts. The nuns were eventually released on bail after MPs intervened. The demonstration highlighted the issue of religious hatred and the fear it instills in minorities.

A demonstration was held in Tamil Nadu to condemn the recent arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh. The nuns, Sisters Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, were detained on July 26 over allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversions, charges that the Syro-Malabar Church has strongly denied [3]. The incident has sparked protests and accusations of religious bias, casting a shadow over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent efforts to reach out to the Christian community.

The Tamil Nadu Minorities Welfare Committee staged a demonstration in Madurai on Monday, July 2, to express their solidarity with the arrested nuns. The protestors alleged that the nuns were assaulted by Bajrang Dal members and that the police and judiciary did not verify the facts before remanding the nuns in judicial custody. The protestors also accused the BJP and Hindu outfits of spreading religious hatred and instilling fear among minorities [1].

The nuns were eventually released on bail after intervention by MPs of various political parties, including the Congress, DMK, and others. The incident has reignited debates over religious freedom and the misuse of law enforcement in India. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, there were 840 incidents of violence against Christians in 2024, a sharp rise from 601 cases in 2023 [3].

The arrests of the nuns in Chhattisgarh have been criticized as a politically motivated attack on Adivasi Christians. The incident has drawn sharp reactions from Christian groups in Kerala and Delhi, where demonstrators accused the BJP of targeting minorities under the guise of anti-conversion laws [3].

The Supreme Court’s refusal to stay a high court order restraining the DMK from using OTP verification messages for its enrolment drive, titled 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu', further highlights the ongoing legal battles over data protection and privacy in India [2]. The DMK has been collecting personal and Aadhaar details from the public under the guise of the enrolment drive, which has raised concerns about the right to privacy and data protection.

The demonstration in Tamil Nadu underscores the growing concern over religious hatred and the fear it instills in minority communities. The incident has sparked a broader debate on the need for constitutional guarantees to be upheld and the misuse of anti-conversion laws to target religious minorities.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/demonstration-against-arrest-of-christian-nuns-in-chhattisgarh/article69894159.ece
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/sc-refuses-to-stay-hc-order-restraining-dmk-from-using-otp-verification-125080400584_1.html
[3] https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/adivasi-christians-nuns-arrest-india/article69868571.ece