Arrest of Nuns in Chhattisgarh on Conversion Charges Sparks Protests
The arrest of two Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh has ignited widespread protests and political condemnation. The nuns were detained on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, and forced religious conversion. The incident has been heavily criticized by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin, who described it as systematic persecution of minorities and communal vigilantism. Protests have erupted in Kerala and Delhi, with calls for the central government's immediate intervention and action against the accusers.
Unpacked:
Authorities acted after a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member, alleging the nuns were trafficking three tribal women to Agra for forced religious conversion under the guise of job placements. The charges were filed under human trafficking and religious conversion laws, but the families of the women and church officials deny these allegations, stating the women traveled willingly for work.
The families of the three tribal women have firmly denied the allegations of forced conversion and trafficking. They state the women left willingly for nursing or domestic jobs in Agra and suggest the arrests were politically motivated and without merit.
There is a reported pattern of attacks and legal action against Christians in Chhattisgarh. Christian communities express fear due to repeated assaults and accusations of forced conversion. Church officials claim they have not converted anyone in the region for at least a decade but still face threats and restrictions on gatherings.
The charges were brought under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968. These anti-conversion laws are controversial because critics allege they are often misused to target minorities, resulting in arrests and harassment based on little or no evidence.