BJP’s minority bashing: Nuns’ arrest the proof

The shocking incident involving the arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh, is yet another grave reminder that the minorities in India are unsafe in a BJP ruled state, despite Constitutional guarantees. Members of the Christian community have strongly condemned the arrests, calling it part of a growing trend of harassment and false accusations by Hindu right wing groups.

A pattern of rising hostility is clearly emerging in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, both ruled by the saffron party. This involves mob violence, false police cases, and attacks on church run institutions. The silence or complicity of BJP led state governments, and police has only emboldened such acts.

According to data compiled by the United Christian Forum (UCF), reported incidents targeting Christians have surged from 127 cases in 2014 to 834 in 2024 highlighting what may be called a systematic and escalating campaign of intimidation against the minority community. In the present case, the bail pleas of two Kerala nuns, arrested in Chhattisgarh in connection with alleged religious conversion, and trafficking charges have been rejected by both the lower court and the sessions court.

The human trafficking charges have put the arrest under the purview of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court. Politicians from across the spectrum have slammed the BJP ruled government for their high handedness in handling the situation. The most remarkable criticism has come from the saffron party's Kerala unit president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Chandrasekhar said that it’s a misunderstanding and a case of miscommunication, adding that while the case was initially treated as human trafficking, the situation appears to be a lapse in registration under the Private Placement Agencies Regulation Act Vijayan criticised the Centre for failing to intervene and said minority rights and the Constitution's guarantees are under threat.

Toeing the saffron party line, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had, defended the arrests, said it was unfortunate that the issue of safety of women was being politicised. Senior CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat termed the arrests unconstitutional and illegal, adding that it is a targeted attack on Christians in the country.

The Congress too has urged the PM to expedite the release of the nuns, raising the issue in the parliament. In a significant development in Kerala, which could have ramifications for the present arrests, a court has discharged five people ; two nuns and three from Jharkhand, in a case alleging the trafficking of three underage girls for domestic work, ruling that there was no evidence of threats, coercion or exploitation.

The order assumes significance, since the charges were similar and the context too. However, the difference could be the secular atmosphere in Kerala, and the lack of it in BJP ruled Chhattisgarh, which has also reported atrocities on other minorities including tribals who form a sizable percentage of residents in the state.

There should be an end to such atrocities on religious minorities, and more civil society organisations and secular, peace loving forces in India must unite and oppose such heinous acts and use the Constitutional guarantees along with the legal provisions in ensuring justice.