Kerala nuns arrest controversy deepens after Chhattisgarh arrests spark political storm, provocative backlash and communal outrage nationwide

Kerala, Aug.01,2025: The court in Durg later declined to hear their bail plea, citing jurisdictional issues and directing the NIA court in Bilaspur to handle the case

Kerala nuns arrest controversy erupts at Durg station

Kerala nuns arrest controversy first grabbed headlines on July 25, 2025, when two Catholic nuns from Kerala—Sister Preeti Mary (45) and Sister Vandana Francis (50)—were detained by Railway Police at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh. The detentions stemmed from a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member alleging human trafficking and forced religious conversion of three tribal girls aged between 19 and 23.

Who are the nuns and why were they arrested

Sisters Preeti and Vandana, affiliated with the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, were reportedly escorting the three tribal women to Agra for nursing training and employment. The women and their families assert they had valid parental consent, and the women voluntarily agreed to travel for lawful work. Yet, police framed the case under IPC Section 143(3) and the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968.

The court in Durg later declined to hear their bail plea, citing jurisdictional issues and directing the NIA court in Bilaspur to handle the case. As a result, the nuns remain in judicial custody until at least August 8.

The political chasm: BJP ire and Kerala backlash

Kerala BJP under fire

Kerala nuns arrest controversy has placed Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a political quandary. His comments framing the arrests as a “misunderstanding”—while trying to preserve outreach to Christians—have exposed a stark divergence from the Chhattisgarh BJP unit’s hardline approach.

Opposition protest erupts

Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, condemned the arrests as targeted minority oppression, staging protests in Parliament and demanding the nuns’ release. Congress MPs and Kerala ministers also criticized the Bajrang Dal’s vigilante role in provoking the arrests.

Voices from the ground: victim testimony and coercion claims

One of the rescued girls claimed she travelled willingly and was promised a ₹10,000/month nursing job at a Christian institution. She accused Bajrang Dal activists of coercing her into a false statement by threatening violence against her family and even assaulting her, while GRP reportedly mishandled her statement.

Families of the tribal women strongly denied forced conversion or trafficking, urging for an unbiased investigation and immediate release of the nuns.

Church, Kerala leaders, and constitutional outrage

Kerala’s church leadership—including the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC)—has condemned the incident as unconstitutional and a direct affront to India’s freedom of religion, highlighting the growing misuse of anti-conversion laws.

Protests erupted in Thrissur, led by Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, symbolizing mass solidarity. Church leaders criticized the politicization of religious garments and demanded constitutional safeguards for minorities.

Legal status and anti‑conversion laws context

Chhattisgarh’s Freedom of Religion Act (2006) mandates prior consent and prohibits forced conversion, with penalties up to three years imprisonment and fines. In cases involving minors or tribal women, the penalties rise significantly.

Since 2014, such laws have been widely criticized and associated with growing distrust among minority communities, especially Christians, towards the BJP-led government.

What BJP is saying and next steps

Union Minister George Kurian said the BJP is the only party actively working to resolve the matter, blaming procedural lapses for delays in bail hearings and distancing other parties from meaningful action.

Kerala unit leadership insisted India’s legal system—not politics—should govern guilt or innocence, while senior BJP figures emphasized balancing minority outreach despite regional friction with central positions.

What this means for minority outreach & politics

The Kerala nuns arrest controversy highlights the BJP’s ideological tension as it seeks to expand influence in Kerala’s Christian-majority pockets. Analysts caution that such high-profile arrests risk reversing minority outreach gains and deepening mistrust among Christian voters, especially with crucial local body elections looming in Kerala within months.

Political analysts note that the Kerala BJP’s attempt to sustain momentum among Christians may falter if judicial and public pressure mounts, undermining the party’s inclusive messaging.

Kerala nuns arrest controversy has emerged as a flashpoint in India’s religious and political landscape. With accusations of forced conversion, coerced testimonies, and a chilling misuse of anti-conversion laws, the arrest reveals internal BJP divisions, widespread Church condemnation, and minority rights crises. As legal proceedings proceed, the episode may reshape political calculus ahead of key elections.