The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has strongly criticized the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) for demanding the quashing of a human trafficking and illegal religious conversion case against two Kerala-based Christian nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh.
Labeling CBCI’s stance as “the height of hypocrisy,” VHP Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain stated, “The nuns were arrested for heinous crimes of human trafficking and illegal conversion. Why did they deny charges only after seven days? That in itself is an acceptance of guilt.”
The VHP’s statement was made through a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, responding to CBCI President and Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, who had welcomed the NIA Special Court’s decision to grant the nuns bail. Thazhath called the accusations “completely false” and claimed the sisters were attacked by a mob while working at a hospital with parental permission.
“I thank God and everyone for this good news,” Archbishop Thazhath told ANI. “Our request is that the case be quashed at the earliest… There should be a government law to protect people from such incidents.”
He also expressed concern about rising hostility toward Christians and urged the government to act against fringe groups allegedly targeting the community.
The two nuns were released from Durg Jail on Saturday following the court’s bail order. Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar was present to receive them.
The case against the nuns was registered under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967.
