Nuns' Arrest in Chhattisgarh Sparks Protests in Kerala and Delhi

Keralite nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, and forced conversion. Protests erupt in Kerala and Delhi, with both ruling and opposition parties denouncing the "minority-hate-fuelled arrest" as "State-sponsored terrorism." Union Minister George Kurian says the matter is sub judice and cannot comment, while Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Modi demanding justice for the nuns.

Protests have erupted in Kerala and New Delhi over the arrest of two Keralite nuns on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, and forced conversion at the Durg Railway station in Chhattisgarh. The nuns, Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preeta Mary of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), were taken into judicial remand following their arrest on July 25, 2025.

The protests, led by both ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs from Kerala, have assumed a bipartisan character. The MPs accused the Chhattisgarh police of towing the line of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu right-wing group, and demanded the immediate release of the nuns. They also alleged that the nuns were falsely accused and that the arrests were part of a "minority-hate-fuelled" campaign [1].

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian stated that the matter is still sub judice and that he could not comment on the case until the court processes the nuns' arrest. He mentioned that the BJP's Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is 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 [1].

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding justice for the "unfairly incarcerated" nuns. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan called on the parents of Sister Preeta Mary, terming the arrests "arbitrary and fascist" [1].

The protests have highlighted the ongoing tension between the BJP and the Christian community in India. The Syro-Malabar Church's mouthpiece, Deepika, claimed that there was a "dichotomy" between the BJP's words and actions, with the party inviting Christians to events while allowing Sangh Parivar groups to persecute them in BJP-ruled states [1].

The arrests have sparked a political backlash, with various political leaders and religious figures expressing their concern. The protests in Kerala and Delhi have underscored the growing divide between the ruling party and the opposition, as well as the broader issue of religious tolerance in India.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/protests-erupt-in-kerala-delhi-over-arrest-of-keralite-nuns-in-chhattisgarh/article69864494.ece