BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday stated that the two Keralite Catholic nuns arrested by the Chhattisgarh police on Friday were not involved in human trafficking or any attempt at forced religious conversion.
Virtually rejecting Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s statement justifying the police action, Chandrasekhar said there was a clear case of miscommunication and assured that the BJP would stand by the nuns until they receive justice.
“It is now evident that neither religious conversion nor human trafficking took place. There was a miscommunication regarding the incident. We, the BJP, will stand with the nuns until they get justice. If necessary, I will personally travel to Chhattisgarh. I have already been in touch with the Home Minister there,” Chandrasekhar told the media in Delhi.
He acknowledged that conversion is a serious issue in states like Chhattisgarh, but emphasized that no such activity was involved in this particular case.
Chandrasekhar said Sister Preetha Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, hailing from Kannur and Angamaly respectively, were “neither human traffickers nor proselytizers,” as alleged by Bajrang Dal activists. He further clarified that Bajrang Dal does not operate under BJP’s authority and is an independent organization.
On Monday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had justified the police action, claiming there was an attempt to lure individuals into conversion through human trafficking.
Meanwhile, anticipating political fallout, the Kerala BJP dispatched its State General Secretary Anoop Antony and Vice President Shone George to Chhattisgarh to assess the situation and offer legal assistance.
Anoop Antony stated that in 90–95% of incidents involving attacks on minorities, the Sangh Parivar has no direct connection. “It is wrong to claim that these attacks are orchestrated by the BJP,” he said.
The two nuns — Preetha Mary and Vandana Francis — belong to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate under the Syro-Malabar Church. They were arrested at Durg railway station while accompanying three girls and charged with forced religious conversion and human trafficking.