Congress raises arrest of 2 nuns in Chhattisgarh, says BJP targeting minorities

The arrest of two Catholic nuns in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh over charges of human trafficking and forcible religious conversion reverberated in Parliament on Wednesday as Congress MPs protested outside the house and raised the issue in Zero Hour in Lok Sabha.

Demanding the release of the two nuns, Congress MPs alleged that BJP was targeting minorities and instigating violence in Kerala.

Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, as well as a man identified as Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested by the Government Railway Police at Chhattisgarh's Durg Railway Station on Tuesday. According to an FIR registered on the basis of a complaint, they allegedly forcibly converted three women and trafficked them from Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. However, the families of the three women have denied claims they were trafficked.


Congress MPs from Kerala raised slogans in Parliament premises before the day's proceedings began. During Zero Hour, Congress MP K C Venugopal alleged that the nuns had been arrested on false charges.

Incidentally, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai arrived in Delhi on Wednesday and has slated meetings with the state's MPs.

Kerala court clears nuns, others in 'trafficking' case

Thrissur: In an unrelated case, a court in Kerala has discharged five people -- two nuns and three from Jharkhand -- in a case alleging the trafficking of three underage girls for domestic work, ruling that there was no evidence of threats, coercion or exploitation.

The court said the prosecution had "completely failed to establish even a prima facie case" under human trafficking provisions.