The arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh has sparked a political storm across the country, with opposition leaders, civil society groups, and rights activists expressing outrage over what they call a blatant misuse of power and a dangerous attack on minority rights.
On Monday, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the arrests in strong terms, accusing the BJP-RSS combine of enabling a climate of mob rule and religious persecution.
They demanded the immediate release of the nuns and called for those responsible for the injustice to be held accountable.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, took to social media platform X to express his concern. “Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith — this isn’t justice, it’s BJP-RSS mob rule,” he wrote.
“It reflects a dangerous pattern: systematic persecution of minorities under this regime. We will not be silent. Religious freedom is a constitutional right. We demand their immediate release and accountability for this injustice.”
Echoing her brother’s sentiments, Priyanka Gandhi termed the arrests a “grave attack on minority rights”, particularly highlighting the baseless nature of the allegations levelled against the nuns.
“The detention of two Christian nuns — Sister Vandana and Sister Preethi — along with others, without legal basis and on false allegations of conversion and trafficking, is a grave attack on minority rights,” Priyanka wrote on X.
“This is not an isolated case — under BJP rule, minorities are being systematically harassed and vilified. Mob justice and communal targeting have no place in our democracy. The rule of law must prevail.”
Political Outrage and Parliamentary Protest
The arrests, which took place on July 26 at Durg Railway Station, have galvanized both the ruling and opposition fronts in Kerala, uniting them in their demand for justice.
On Monday, Members of Parliament from the United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a protest outside Parliament House, raising slogans and holding placards against the alleged misuse of laws and police force in Chhattisgarh.
Senior Congress leader and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal accused the Chhattisgarh Police and Bajrang Dal activists of colluding to falsely implicate the nuns in criminal cases. “This incident reflects the BJP’s real intent towards religious minorities,” he said. “The nuns were targeted by a violent mob despite no wrongdoing. This is nothing short of a communal witch-hunt.”
Venugopal’s social media post was shared by Rahul Gandhi as part of his own condemnation.
The Arrests: A Timeline
The two nuns in question, Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi, are affiliated with the Kerala-based Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI). At the time of their arrest, they were at the Durg railway station to receive three young women and a man from Narayanpur district, who were reportedly visiting for employment at the convent.
Right-wing activists in the region accused the group of involvement in human trafficking and religious conversion, prompting the police to intervene and arrest the nuns under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The arrests took place despite no clear evidence of wrongdoing and have drawn widespread criticism for being based on communal paranoia rather than legal merit.
Kerala Leaders Stand in Solidarity
Across Kerala, political leaders have voiced outrage over the incident. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan described the arrests as the result of a “mob trial” and condemned the “brutal police witch-hunt” against the nuns.
“They (Sangh Parivar) come to Christian homes and churches in Kerala with cakes and smiles,” Satheesan wrote on Facebook. “But in other states, they ruthlessly attack Christian communities. The arrest of the nuns in Chhattisgarh is the latest example of this two-faced behavior.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also weighed in strongly, revealing that his government had been unable to contact the nuns after their arrest, sparking fears about their safety and wellbeing.
In a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vijayan requested immediate intervention to ensure “transparent and fair proceedings” and to protect the rights of the accused. His office confirmed that the state government had raised the matter urgently and demanded that justice be served.
BJP’s Response and Promise of Fair Probe
Responding to mounting pressure, Chhattisgarh BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that he had requested state authorities to conduct a comprehensive probe into the matter. “The real facts must come out,” he said, adding that he had received assurance from the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister that “no innocent people would be punished.”
While the BJP maintains that the police were acting on complaints received locally, critics argue that the party’s silence and inaction during the incident reflect a broader pattern of minority harassment and religious polarization.
A Growing Climate of Fear
This incident, though rooted in a single state, is part of a wider national pattern that opposition parties and civil society groups have repeatedly flagged — a climate where Christians, Muslims, and other minorities are frequently accused of forced conversions, attacked during religious gatherings, and subjected to arbitrary detention.
With religious freedom enshrined in India’s Constitution, activists warn that such actions undermine the very fabric of secular democracy, replacing it with fear, hostility, and mistrust.
As more voices rise in defence of Sister Vandana and Sister Preethi, the call for justice is growing louder — not just for these two nuns, but for the countless others who may become victims of mob rule masquerading as law enforcement.
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