Kochi: Protests were staged in different parts of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts by organisations related to the church and various political parties against the arrest of two nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh on charges of forced conversion. The protests took place even as delegations of political parties from Kerala landed in Chhattisgarh to offer solidarity with the jailed nuns. 

The parishioners of St Antony's Church, Elavoor, the parish of Sister Preethi Mary, took out a march in protest against the nun's arrest on Tuesday evening. Priests, nuns and a large number of believers took part in the march and the protest meeting held in front of the church. 

Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) of the Kochi diocese staged a sit-in at BOT Junction, Thoppumpady. The KLCA said that the Chhattisgarh incident was an invasion of the Constitution. The association said the incident was not isolated but a part of the ongoing conspiracy against Christians and their institutions. 

Meanwhile, the Thrissur Archdiocese staged a protest in front of the Thrissur Corporation. Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath led the protest and said that discrimination is evident both in the state and across the country. "If you’re a Christian, you lose all your rights. But if you convert to another religion, you gain everything," he said.

He described the arrest of the sisters as a violation of India's Constitution, particularly the right to religious freedom. "Wearing religious attire has now become a reason for suspicion," he said, calling the situation alarming.

The Archbishop dismissed current allegations of forced religious conversion as baseless. He clarified that the three young women who arrived at the hospital run by the nuns were adults and members of the Church of North India (CNI), and they came with their parents’ consent. "The sisters only saw them for the first time when they were taken to the police station. So why were they charged with religious conversion and human trafficking?" he asked.

The Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) said that the intolerance and atrocities against religious minorities have evoked fear among such communities. "The arrest of the nuns on charges of religious conversion and human trafficking is anti-constitutional and a violation of human rights. The charge of forced conversion was added much later to make the case stronger. The statement by the Chhattisgarh CM defending the attack has increased our anxiety," KRLCC Vice President Joseph Jude and General Secretary Fr Jiju Arackathara said in a statement.

The Cherupushpa Mission League at Edappally staged a protest on the premises of St George’s Church, Edappally. 

Meanwhile, a lower court in Chhattisgarh rejected the bail plea of the two nuns, and the church is now approaching the sessions court on Wednesday, IANS reported. 

Political parties protest
Ernakulam district Congress committee president Muhammed Shiyas termed the arrest of the nuns a clear violation of constitutional rights and a witch hunt of the minorities. He said the incident revealed the true colours of the BJP. Various block committees of Congress staged protests against the incident.

CPI district secretary N Arun said that the arrest of the nuns was an insult to democracy and an open threat to religious freedom. He was speaking after visiting the family of Sister Preethi Mary. 

DYFI leaders also visited the nun’s family and promised all possible interventions to release the arrested nuns. 

Aam Aadmi Party’s Ernakulam district committee organised a protest march from High Court Junction to Menaka Junction. The party called upon society to stand united and resist the atrocities against religious minorities in the country.