BJP Kerala chief rejects Chhattisgarh CM’s conversion allegations
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/DURG, July 29: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the Catholic nuns from the state were jailed in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh based on a “fake” complaint by Bajrang Dal activists, and that the incident revealed the true colours of the Sangh Parivar.
It is also the latest example of Sangh Parivar’s atrocities against the Christian community, he said in a statement here.
Apparently referring to the BJP’s long-drawn attempts to gain support within the Christian community in the state, the CM said the same people who visit Christian homes with cakes and friendly smiles are the ones who carry out witch-hunts against nuns on charges of religious conversion and human trafficking.
“The Sangh Parivar fears the country’s pluralism and coexistence. That is why attacks on minorities continue,” Vijayan alleged.
The Left veteran further said as soon as the news of the arrest of the Kerala nuns broke, a letter was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to ensure justice.
However, persons, including the Chhattisgarh CM, justified the arrest of the Catholic nuns, he noted.
Taking on Sangh Parivar, he said it is “constantly trying to harm the secularism of the country by indulging in hatred and divisive politics.” The CM further said, the “encroachments into the rights of minorities” and the fundamental rights granted by the Constitution must be resisted and defeated.
He reiterated that the “atrocities against nuns in Chhattisgarh” reflected the true colour of the Sangh Parivar. Vijayan charged that it is clear beyond doubt that the nuns were arrested and imprisoned on the basis of a “fake” complaint filed by Bajrang Dal activists.
KERALA BJP CHIEF
A day after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai justified police action against two Keralite Catholic nuns in that state, the BJP in Kerala on Tuesday virtually rejected his statements, saying that they were not involved in any human trafficking or forced conversion attempts.
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar categorically made it clear that his party would make all possible attempts to release the nuns from jail and bring them back home safe.Chandrasekhar said the party state general secretary, Anoop Antony, is already in Chhattisgarh to coordinate things and clarify the matter with the authorities there, and he himself would go there if needed.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress-led UDF MPs landed in Chhattisgarh to meet the nuns.
Though forced conversion is a clear issue in states like Chhattisgarh, no such thing has happened in this particular incident, Rajiv Chandrasekhar said. “We are confident that they (nuns) have not gone there for that (conversions),” he told reporters here.In a post on X, Sai on Monday justified the police action against the nuns, saying, “Three daughters of Narayanpur were promised nursing training followed by jobs”. An attempt was being made to convert them by human trafficking by luring them, he added.
Rejecting the Chhattisgarh CM’s remarks, Chandrasekhar said it was just an allegation.
“We believe that no such things have happened there. It is an allegation. Let’s see later who has made all these things and for what. Our top priority now is to protect the nuns from the case and bring them back home safe,” he said.When reporters asked whether the BJP condemns the act of Bajrang Dal, who reportedly behaved in an objectionable manner to the nuns, the leader said the party would strongly condemn the unjustified act by anyone. (PTI)