Home Special Articles 11 Times Congress Reacted To The Chhattisgarh Nun Arrests

11 Times Congress Reacted To The Chhattisgarh Nun Arrests

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The Commune
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congress leader protest statement chhattisgarh nuns arrest

The arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala and a tribal woman in Chhattisgarh on charges related to religious conversion has triggered sharp criticism from the Congress party, which accused the BJP-led government of persecuting minorities.

Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, both hailing from Kerala, were taken into custody on 25 July 2025, along with Sukaman Mandavi, a tribal woman. The arrests were made at Durg railway station after a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) flagged the group for not having platform tickets. The women were subsequently booked under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged human trafficking and under Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968, both of which carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

A local court has remanded all three in custody for 14 days, with their remand set to expire on 8 August 2025.

Political Reactions and Protests

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the arrests, calling them “a blatant act of persecution against minorities under the BJP-RSS regime.” He further described the incident as an example of “mob rule” and accused the government of systematically targeting Christian missionaries and minority groups.

Between July 25 and July 29, at least 12 Congress leaders publicly came out in support of the detained nuns. These leaders questioned the basis of the FIR, criticized the application of trafficking charges, and demanded immediate accountability from authorities.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council also issued a statement on July 27, denouncing the arrests as “baseless and unjustified.” On July 26, families of the tribal women involved stated they had full knowledge of the job placements being arranged, directly contradicting the trafficking allegations leveled by the police.

UDF Protest in Parliament

The United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a protest in Parliament, holding placards that read “Stop attacks on minorities” and “Govt’s silence is violence.” The opposition bloc warned that the arrests were part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance and misuse of legal provisions under the BJP government.

As the remand period continues, rights organizations and Christian groups are also expected to intensify their advocacy demanding the immediate release of the three women.

#1 Rahul Gandhi Condemns Nuns’ Arrest as “Mob Rule”

On 28 July 2025, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi denounced the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, calling it an act of religious persecution. In a post on X, Gandhi said, “Two Catholic nuns Sister Vandana and Sister Preethi jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith — this isn’t justice, it’s BJP-RSS mob rule.”

He termed the arrests part of a “dangerous pattern” of systematic minority persecution under the current regime. Gandhi added that UDF MPs protested in Parliament and demanded the immediate release of the nuns, stressing that religious freedom is a constitutional right.

#2 Priyanka Gandhi Slams Arrest of Nuns in Chhattisgarh

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on 28 July 2025 condemned the arrest of Catholic nuns Sister Vandana and Sister Preethi in Durg, Chhattisgarh, calling it a grave attack on minority rights. She said the detention, based on false allegations of conversion and trafficking, lacked legal basis and reflected a pattern of systematic harassment under BJP rule. Priyanka asserted that mob justice and communal targeting have no place in a democracy and demanded accountability.

#3 AICC Gen Sec Venugopal Slams Arrest of Nuns, Alleges Minority Persecution in BJP Rule

AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal condemned the arrest of two Catholic nuns and Sukaman Mandavi in Chhattisgarh, calling it an instance of minority persecution under BJP rule. He alleged that Bajrang Dal’s mob attack on the nuns had tacit support from the ruling establishment. The FIR, based on trafficking and forced conversion claims, was dismissed by the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, which asserted the women were adults seeking jobs. Families also denied trafficking claims. Rahul Gandhi and other UDF MPs protested in Parliament, demanding the nuns’ release. BJP leaders defended the action as lawful under anti-conversion and trafficking laws.

#4 Kerala Congress Leader Satheesan Slams ‘Mob Trial’ of Malayali Nuns in Chhattisgarh

Kerala Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan condemned the arrest of two Malayali nuns in Chhattisgarh, calling it a “mob trial” under BJP rule. He alleged police persecution and false charges, stating the incident reflects rising religious intolerance. Satheesan also revealed that due to threats, clergy had advised the nuns to avoid wearing religious habits in public. “How terrifying is this?” he asked, adding that persecution in the name of religion or caste is unacceptable. He demanded the immediate release of the arrested nuns and called for accountability from authorities enabling such harassment.

#5 Benny Behanan, UDF MPs Condemn Arrest of Nuns in Chhattisgarh

Congress MP Benny Behanan, along with UDF MPs Francis George and N.K. Premachandran, condemned the arrest of two Kerala-based Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, calling it unjust and politically motivated. Behanan said they would visit the jail and meet the nuns before engaging officials to secure their release. BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar also distanced the party from the Bajrang Dal’s actions and asserted the nuns’ innocence, promising justice. Congress leaders accused the Chhattisgarh BJP government of enabling religious persecution. The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council and Kerala Ministers also extended support to the arrested nuns and their families.

#6 Shafi Parambil Slams BJP’s Cake Politics After Nun Arrests

Congress MP Shafi Parambil criticized the BJP’s outreach to Kerala’s Christian community, calling it hypocritical in light of the recent arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh. He remarked that while the BJP prepares Christmas cake mixes for bishops, it remains silent on the unjust detention of nuns in religious attire. “This year, when they bring cakes, people will ask questions,” he said, accusing the party of clear double standards. His comments come amid growing political backlash and community outrage over the arrests under alleged trafficking and forced conversion charges.

#7 Francis George Says Nun Arrests Undermine Constitutional Freedoms

Congress leader Francis George condemned the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, calling it a violation of fundamental rights. He questioned how escorting women for jobs at a Christian convent could be construed as human trafficking. George alleged that the arrests undermined key constitutional guarantees, including freedom of movement and religious freedom. He was part of the opposition delegation that traveled to Raipur to meet the detained nuns and demand their release.

#8 Bhupesh Baghel Protests Denial of Access to Jailed Nuns

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel criticized authorities for initially denying a Kerala MP-MLA delegation access to two arrested nuns in Durg. He warned of a sit-in protest unless the meeting was allowed. The nuns, arrested on July 25 for alleged trafficking and forced conversion, have sparked political outrage. Congress leaders accused the BJP of minority persecution, while CPI leaders were also denied access. Baghel claimed political interference, while Home Minister Vijay Sharma dismissed the allegations, calling them political drama. He said procedural delays, not denial, caused the issue, and that the meeting was later arranged.

#9 Sunny Joseph Slams BJP Over Nun Arrests, Defends Whistleblower Doctor

Congress MLA and KPCC President Sunny Joseph visited the families of the arrested nuns in Kannur and condemned their detention in Chhattisgarh, calling the charges of trafficking and conversion “baseless.” He accused the BJP government of punishing the nuns for helping the poor. Separately, Joseph alleged that the state’s show-cause notice to Dr. Harris Hasan was political vendetta after his exposure of healthcare mismanagement. He criticized the Kerala government for silencing whistleblowers instead of addressing their concerns, calling it an abuse of power and a threat to truth-telling in public service.

#10 K. Suresh Blames Right-Wing for Nun Arrests in Chhattisgarh

Senior Congress MP K. Suresh accused right-wing groups of orchestrating the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns in Chhattisgarh. He alleged that two young women had willingly joined the nuns for work, but Bajrang Dal members falsely claimed it was a conversion attempt and attacked the nuns. “After the assault, the police filed an FIR, and now both the innocent nuns and the girls are in jail,” he said in Delhi. Suresh criticized the BJP-led state government, implying complicity in the incident, and called for immediate action to release the nuns and restore justice.

#11 Congress Leader Alleges Mistreatment of Detained Nuns in Durg

Annie Peter, a Congress leader from Durg, alleged mistreatment of two detained nuns at the Durg police station. She said she rushed to the station on Tuesday morning upon hearing of their detention. “There were a lot of people that morning. In the evening, we learnt that an FIR had been registered. I asked the police to allow me to meet the two nuns. They were unable to speak,” she said. Peter suggested the nuns may have been intimidated or traumatized and criticized the authorities for not ensuring humane treatment during custody.

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