CPI MP condemns arrest of Nuns in Chhattisgarh, calls it "orchestrated attack on Christian community"

New Delhi [India], July 30 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas has strongly condemned the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns in Chhattisgarh, alleging that it is part of a wider campaign of harassment and persecution against the Christian community in northern India.
Two Kerala-based nuns were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25 over charges of human trafficking and religious conversion.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Brittas said, "The arrest of the nuns is part of the orchestrated attack on the Christian community in North India. Their churches are being burnt, their hospitals are being attacked, and the nuns are being ill-treated and attacked. Two nuns were arrested illegally."
He termed the arrests "illegal" and accused the Chhattisgarh government of attempting to justify what he called an "injustice."
Two nuns were arrested illegally. The chief minister of that state has the audacity to justify this arrest, whereas their state leadership in Kerala says that it was an injustice. This unravels the true colour of the BJP and the RSS. They are against the minorities and will do anything and everything to make their lives miserable."
The arrest has triggered political and religious backlash, with several human rights and Christian organisations raising concerns over the increasing criminalisation of religious workers in tribal and rural areas.
Meanwhile, Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Wednesday visited the Durg Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, where two Kerala-based nuns are currently lodged following their arrest on charges of trafficking and forced religious conversion.
Karat, who was joined by CPI leaders Annie Raja and other members of a party delegation, met the nuns and later condemned the arrests as unjust, calling them part of a "targeted attack" on the Christian community in the state.
Two Kerala-based nuns were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25 over charges of human trafficking and religious conversion. Speaking to ANI, Karat said, "Two nuns who have been serving the poor here for years were jailed today on the basis of a fake allegation and a manufactured lie. A tribal boy who had no fault was also beaten up and jailed today. What kind of law is this that people of Bajrang Dal or any RSS outfit beat those girls and a boy like this in front of the police and law enforcement agencies?"
"They are doing all this under the protection of the government. This is a targeted attack on the Christian community," Karat added.
CPI further asserted, "PM Modi goes abroad, embraces everyone and says 'sabka sath sabka vikas'. And here his own people, inspired by his ideology, insult two nuns, beat up tribals because they have adopted Christianity by their own will.
On July 27, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) also strongly condemned the alleged incident, claiming that, according to reports, the women had explicit written permission from their parents but were physically assaulted after being arrested. (ANI)