Brinda Karat meets nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh; alleges 'targeted attack' on Christians

Durg: Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Wednesday claimed the arrest of two Catholic nuns for alleged human trafficking and forced religious conversion in Chhattisgarh was "unconstitutional and illegal", and demanded their immediate release.

Karat, who met the two nuns hailing from Kerala at the Durg Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, alleged they were jailed as part of a narrow agenda of the BJP and the Chhattigsarh government.

"This is a targeted attack on Christians in the country," she claimed while talking to reporters outside the jail after she along with a delegation of Left parties and a Congress leader met the nuns lodged there.

Nuns Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis along with Sukaman Mandavi were arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh on July 25 following a complaint by a local Bajrang Dal functionary, who accused them of forcibly converting three women from the state's tribal-dominated Narayanpur district and trafficking them.

"We are deeply disturbed by whatever we heard and saw. Based on a fabricated case, the two nuns have been arrested," Karat said.

The two nuns who have been working for years among the poor were sent to jail as part of a "narrow agenda of the BJP and the Chhattisgarh government," she claimed.

"They (nuns) are ailing and suffering from fever and arthritis, despite that they were made to sleep on the floor...what is happening in the country. This (action) is lawlessness, unconstitutional and illegal. This is a targeted attack on Christians in the country. Even basic human values are being trampled," she charged.

Karat further alleged that Bajrang Dal activists assaulted the three women (alleged victims) in front of police and forced them to change their statements.

"There is no rule of law, instead there is rule of goons," she said, demanding withdrawal of the FIR and immediate release of the nuns.

A tribal man has also been arrested, Karat pointed out.

The BJP claims itself to be the well wisher of tribals. But that man (arrested tribal) was also assaulted and forced to change his statement, she claimed, adding "this is a matter of shame in front of our country".

Karat also rejected the allegations of human trafficking and conversion.

"Indian citizens have every right to travel and seek employment anywhere in the country. All the allegations are baseless. This allegation of trafficking was levelled because it is the narrow agenda of Hindutva to attack minorities of this country," she charged.

On Tuesday, a delegation of leaders of the Congress-led UDF alliance in Kerala visited the Durg Central Jail and met the two nuns.

The delegation later also met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai who assured them that the matter would be investigated thoroughly.

CM Sai on Monday said said it was unfortunate that the issue of safety of women was being politicised.

"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 them to Agra. An attempt was being made to convert them," Sai had said.