Congress' Shashi Tharoor Slams ‘Mob Rule' In Chhattisgarh, Says Arrest The Goons, Not Nuns
Congress MP Tharoor criticized the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, calling it "mob rule." The incident sparked protests in Parliament and condemnation from opposition.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday criticised the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh, calling the incident an example of 'mob rule" and demanding their immediate release.
'It seems to me that mob rule is going on, where innocent people are being thrown in jail for no fault of theirs. They should be released without any delay, and they should arrest the goons, not the nuns," Tharoor said.
The two nuns, Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, were arrested at Durg railway station on July 25, along with a third person named Sukaman Mandavi. The arrests followed a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal functionary who accused them of forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and trafficking them.
In Parliament, United Democratic Front MPs from Kerala, including KC Venugopal, NK Premachandran and ET Mohammed Basheer, staged a protest at the Makar Dwar steps before the session began. Holding placards with slogans like 'Stop attacks on minorities," they demanded action against those responsible for the arrests.
The incident has triggered a political row, especially in Kerala. While the Congress and CPI(M) condemned the arrests, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai defended the police action. In a post on X, Sai said, 'Three daughters of Narayanpur were promised nursing training followed by jobs. A person from Narayanpur handed them over to two nuns at Durg station, who were taking the daughters to Agra. An attempt was being made to convert them by human trafficking by luring them."
Calling the issue serious and sensitive, he added, 'This is a matter related to the safety of women. The case is sub-judice, and the law will take its own course. Chhattisgarh is a peace-loving state where people of all religions live in harmony. It is unfortunate that the issue is being politicised."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also weighed in, claiming that 'systematic persecution" of minorities was taking place in BJP-ruled states. 'Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith—this is not justice, this is BJP-RSS mob rule," he posted on X. He demanded their release and accountability from the government.
In Kerala, both the ruling Left and the opposition Congress extended support to the arrested nuns' families. Ministers P Rajeev and Roshy Augustine visited the home of nun Preethi Merry on the instruction of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Congress leader VD Satheesan also led a UDF delegation to the family's residence.
Speaking after the visit, Minister Rajeev said, 'Not only religious freedom, but even the Constitution itself is under threat. This must be seen not just as a minority issue but as a challenge to constitutional rights." He added that the government was considering legal steps to assist the nuns.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) strongly condemned the arrests, calling them a 'direct attack" on religious freedom. KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis urged the Centre to intervene and prevent such incidents, particularly in BJP-ruled states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the BJP's Kerala unit responded cautiously. Vice-president Shaun George said the party had taken steps to ensure that the nuns did not face further hardship, and a team led by Anoop Antony would travel to Chhattisgarh. 'The offices of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have intervened. We hope justice will be served," he said.
Congress MP K Suresh added, 'The Bajrang Dal attacked two nuns in Chhattisgarh, and the state government is supporting them. The nuns are in jail."
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