Arrest of Catholic Nuns Sparks Political Uproar: A Clash on Religious Freedom

The detention of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh, charged with human trafficking and forced religious conversion, has ignited a political firestorm. Congress and the CPI(M) have criticized the arrests, while Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai of Chhattisgarh defended the charges, accusing the opposition of politicizing the case.

Rahul Gandhi has condemned the arrests, alleging a systematic persecution of minorities and demanding the immediate release of the nuns, citing constitutional religious freedom. UDF MPs protested in Parliament, demanding accountability and justice. Allegations revolve around the purported forced conversion of three girls from Narayanpur.

Meanwhile, BJP's Kerala branch and central leadership intervened, seeking to mitigate the situation. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council urging government intervention to prevent further incidents undermining religious freedom. The situation continues to unfold with high political stakes.

(With inputs from agencies.)