Bilaspur: The arrest of two Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh has sparked a political row, with the Congress and the LDF launching open attacks against the BJP over an alleged conspiracy targeting minority communities in India.

Minutes after the release of Sr Preethy and Sr Vandana from a Chhattisgarh jail, LDF MPs John Brittas, Sandosh Kumar, and Jose K Mani condemned the saffron party, accusing it of using the incident for political gain. Brittas alleged that BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar discussed the party’s plans for the upcoming local body polls after meeting with the bishop regarding the sisters’ arrest.

“ The sisters were released from the jail after Kerala launched a protest demanding justice for them. The issue was raised in the parliament and intervention of Amit Shah was also sought. The Chhattisgarh government under BJP was not ready to quash the false case against the nuns. 

Now, the BJP has intervened in the case for political gain. Union Ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, who represent Kerala in the Union Cabinet, do not deserve to continue in their positions. They did not intervene on behalf of the nuns, who were jailed over a fabricated case,” Brittas alleged.

The LDF MPs accused the BJP of hijacking the credit for the nuns' release from jail.

Addressing the media, Congress MP Jebi Mather expressed happiness over the nuns’ release but questioned the Chhattisgarh government’s decision to hand the case over to the NIA. She added that the next priority is the relaxation of the bail conditions and the quashing of the FIR.

“The bail has been granted. The sisters have come out of jail. It is a matter of great happiness. But how did this suddenly become an NIA case? This, too, needs to be challenged legally. The BJP’s double face has become clear to the people. Here, even though the BJP orchestrated their arrest, the BJP Kerala President is here to receive them. Our next step is to quash the FIR,” she said.

The Congress MP further alleged that the incident exposed the BJP’s duplicity. Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen also criticised BJP over the attacks against minority communities. 

The two nuns, Sr Vandana Francis and Sr Preeti Mary who were arrested on July 25 at Durg railway station, were released from jail after a Special NIA Court granted them conditional bail on Saturday.