Bail Expected for Kerala Nuns Arrested in Chhattisgarh, Says BJP’s Chandrasekhar

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP leader, has addressed the arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh, stating the incident was a misunderstanding related to accusations of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. He anticipates that they will be released on bail soon. Chandrasekhar’s comments followed his meeting with Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur, who leads the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. Chandrasekhar stated that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have assured that the state government will not object to the nuns’ bail requests. He has called for the issue to be treated solely as a legal matter, avoiding any political interpretation. He explained that the misunderstanding stems from a failure to register women migrating between districts for employment on a designated portal, as mandated by a Chhattisgarh law. Following the meeting, Archbishop Thazhath conveyed the Church’s concern and desire for the nuns’ quick release. He also raised the issue of security for the Christian community. The two nuns from Kerala, Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, and a man named Sukhman Mandavi, were arrested by the GRP at Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh on July 25, following a complaint made by a local Bajrang Dal official who accused them of forced conversions and trafficking of three young women.