THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, July 30: A major political row erupted after the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh, triggering strong protests by the Congress in Parliament premises on Wednesday.
The nuns were taken into custody on July 25 at Durg Railway Station on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, following allegations by Bajrang Dal members that they were trafficking three tribal minors with promises of jobs and education.
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They have been booked under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act.
The Congress, accusing the BJP-led state government of targeting minorities, staged a demonstration at Parliament’s Makar Dwar demanding the nuns’ immediate release. Party MPs held placards reading, “Release the nuns, arrest the goons.”
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who joined the protest along with Kerala MPs in the Parliament premises, condemned the treatment of the nuns.
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“Some nuns from Kerala were very badly ill-treated, they were accused of things they were not doing, manhandled and taken away by police in Chhattisgarh. Two-three ladies, along with a bunch of ladies should not be manhandled and treated like this, and you cannot accuse people of things they are not doing,” she told reporters.
The incident has intensified political tensions, with the Opposition alleging harassment of minority communities under the guise of law enforcement.
