BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday said the Congress and the Left are just playing drama and opportunistic politics against the arrest of nuns by the Chhattisgarh police .
He said not a single Congress leader from Chhattisgarh has spoken up for the arrested nuns
In a post on social media platform X ( formerly Twitter) on Thursday Rajeev Chandrsekhar said . the unnecessary drama and protests held outside the jail and court in the past few days have only served to worsen and complicate the situation faced by nuns in Chhattisgarh.
He claimed that the BJP is the only party that has worked sincerely for a solution to this issue.
“ The Congress is continuing to politicize this issue for its own gain, despite being fully aware that it could adversely affect the case. This approach has only added pressure on the judicial system and created unnecessary confusion,” he said.
Stating that forced conversion and human trafficking are extremely serious issues in states like Chhattisgarh, the BJP Kerala chief said it is because of this reason that there are strict laws prohibiting them in these states.
This should be recognized, restraint should be exercised on this issue and no controversies should be created over it, he said .
“ We all must acknowledge this , approach the matter with sensitivity, and avoid triggering needless controversy,” he said.
A similar case filed by the Kerala police in 2022 against two nuns and three others was closed by the court just a few days ago. In Chhattisgarh itself, in 2021, during the Congress government, four Christian priests were arrested and imprisoned under the Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act, he noted in the post.
“ Those who stayed silent then are now trying to stir unrest simply because elections are approaching in Kerala . Christian believers, secular citizens and all who uphold democratic values must not fall for this trap. This vulture politics played by the Congress will not succeed,” he wrote in the post.
He said not a single Congress leader from Chhattisgarh has joined the Congress delegation from Kerala , spoken out for the nuns, or taken any action on their behalf. This shows that the Congress leaders over there are fully aware of the seriousness of the issue, the BJP Kerala chief added.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar concludes his post, stating “ As a party committed to public welfare, the BJP will stand by any Malayali in crisis , no matter where in the world they are . Whenever needed , we will step in . Our intervention in this case is part of that long-standing commitment. In the future too, if any Malayalee faces a difficulty , the BJP will stand with you, regardless of your caste, religion or belief .”
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the parliament members from Kerala that the Chhattisgarh government will not oppose the bail petitions of two nuns arrested for alleged religious conversion.
He said the nuns can approach the trial court again, stating that the sessions court’s decision to transfer the case to the NIA court was wrong. Amit Shah reportedly assured the delegation of Kerala MPs, who met him on Thursday that all possible steps will be taken to ensure the release of the two nuns arrested over alleged conversion and human trafficking.
Amit Shah told the MPs from Kerala that the arrest was not made due to political motive and that he will take efforts to close the case once they get bail
In this connection, Kerala Congress (M) Chairman Jose K Mani MP has said that the intervention of the Central government is essential to release the Malayali nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh.
He said that the nuns can be released from jail only if the Centre intervenes
Two nuns from Kerala , Preetha Mary and Vandana Francis from the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate under the Syro-Malabar Church, who were accompanying three girls, were arrested by the Chhattisgarh police at Durg railway station on Friday.
They were charged with forced religious conversion and human trafficking.