‘Not nuns, but Constitution held captive’: Syro-Malabar Church mouthpiece slams Centre

Thiruvananthapuram: The Syro-Malabar Church has strongly criticised the Union government over the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of forced religious conversion and human trafficking. The Church’s official mouthpiece 'Deepika' carried a sharply worded editorial 'Nuns not captive, but Constitution', alleging that the nuns were targeted as part of a political and communal campaign, aided by the BJP and right-wing groups.

The nuns, Sister Vandana Francis from Thalassery and Sister Preethi Mary from Angamaly, were taken into custody at Durg railway station while accompanying four girls who had come for employment in Church-run service institutions. Despite having parental consent and valid documents, they were arrested after a railway official questioned them and summoned activists, who subjected them to a “public trial”, the editorial stated.

“Who taught the TTE that Bajrang Dal is the police and court in this land? Why can’t nuns publicly commute in their attire?” it asked.

“Forceful conversion and human trafficking... the usual charges,” the article said. “Even with all documents in hand, the police yielded to extremist pressure.” The editorial alleged that the arrests were part of a wider pattern of targeting Christians under the guise of conversions. “With the blessings of the BJP, and as part of vote-seeking campaigns, countless people are being targeted simply for trying to survive.”

It went on to say that extremists were not only subjecting minorities to public trials in their "kangaroo courts" but also unleashing violence on places of worship and educational institutions. The editorial cited the assault on a nun and the girls accompanying her on the Rourkela Express on May 31, as well as an attack by a nine-member gang on two priests in Odisha.

“We need the Sangh Parivar’s charity now to celebrate Easter and Christmas in public,” it said.

The Church editorial warned that the arrests reflected a broader erosion of India’s secular values, citing misuse of laws like the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the growing normalisation of public suspicion towards Christians. “Suspicious orders are being issued. The government system appears helpless, often relying on the Supreme Court’s interventions,” it said.

A report based on Christian Forum data noted 4,316 incidents of attacks on Christians between 2014 and 2024, with particular concern in BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the editorial pointed out.

It concluded with a warning: “From the muddy platforms of railway stations to the dusty roads of Bible Road, the writings of faith continue to shine bright. But when the voice of the Bible is silenced under false charges, it is not just the Catholic community that suffers — it is the soul of India’s secularism that is being attacked.”

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding urgent intervention and justice for the nuns. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) echoed the demand, calling the case “fabricated” and “malicious”. It accused police of ignoring the harassment faced by the girls and of bowing to Hindutva groups. In Parliament, MPs Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden have given notices seeking an urgent discussion on the incident. Meanwhile, the nuns’ bail pleas are expected to be considered by a local court today.