Home Minister Sharma defends nuns’ arrest

 

 

 

Amidst the Opposition’s allegations, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma addressed the political controversy surrounding the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala, who were arrested along with a young man over allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. In a press interaction, Sharma confirmed that the state police had registered an FIR at the Government Railway Police (GRP) station, and that the arrests were not arbitrary, but based on ‘sufficient grounds’ drawn from statements and evidence. A detailed investigation is under way regarding the entire matter, Sharma stated. The law is taking its own course. Responding to allegations made by senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, who has accused the State Government of targeting minorities and suppressing constitutional freedoms, Sharma defended the administration’s actions.

 

He claimed the issue is more complex and serious than being portrayed. “Our daughters from Abujhmad, a sensitive tribal region, were being taken away by these nuns from Kerala,” Sharma said. “There have been multiple similar incidents reported in recent years. This is not a one-off case and it demands a thorough investigation. All those involved are currently in jail.” Deputy CM’s remarks came on the same day a Congress delegation visited Durg to meet with the arrested individuals and their families.

 

The opposition has alleged that the action taken against the nuns Sister Vandana and Sister Preethi, members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, was politically motivated and based on false claims of religious conversion, despite the victims’ families having allegedly given written consent for their travel and employment. Sharma also took the opportunity to announce that the Chhattisgarh Government is in the final stages of drafting a new anti-conversion law. “The upcoming legislation will bring greater clarity to the process of religious conversions and is intended to be very effective for Chhattisgarh,” he said. The proposed law is expected to be tabled in the upcoming Assembly Session and is part of a broader BJP-led initiative to regulate conversions allegedly carried out through coercion or inducement. 

 

Delegation of Congress MPs from Kerala meets jailed nuns at Durg 

 

 

A delegation of Congress MPs from Kerala on Tuesday met two nuns lodged in Central Jail, Durg on human trafficking charge. The delegation comprising of MPs and office-bearers of Congress held discussions with the nuns and said that they will submit its report with the All India Congress Committee (AICC). They also accused the ruling BJP Government of harassing the minorities and sheltering radical Hindu organisations like Bajrang Dal. On the other hand, a local court in Durg here on Tuesday denied bail to the arrested trio including Keralite nuns Preeti Marry and Vandana Francis as well as one Sukhman Mandavi. Judicial Magistrate First Class Dwijendra Nath Thakur while dismissing the bail plea concluded that the case diary shows their prima facie involvement in the crime. Notably, on Friday last week, the trio was arrested from Durg Railway Station while they were about to board a train to Agra with three tribal girls hailing from Bastar. On Bajranj Dal’s complaint, the trio was charged with human trafficking and sent to jail on judicial remand. On Tuesday, the delegation comprising of MPs Benny Behanan, K Francis George, Saptagiri Ulaka, N K Premchandran and AICC office-bearers met the nuns. The delegation was scheduled to meet the nuns at 12:30 pm, but was asked by the authorities (Contd on page 6) 

 

 

 

Chhattisgarh BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha state president Vikas Markam launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of promoting religious conversions through appeasement politics in response to Congress leaders alleging that the BJP Government is infringing on religious freedom. Markam condemned the Congress’s statements following the arrest of two nuns in Durg, calling them ‘ridiculous’ and indicative of a long-standing pattern of protecting conversion activities under the guise of minority appeasement. He questioned the message Congress sends to tribal communities by supporting individuals accused of misleading and trafficking daughters from the (Contd on page 6)