Congress MPs from Kerala in the Lok Sabha passionately demanded central government intervention to secure the release of two Catholic nuns, Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, along with Sukaman Mandavi, arrested in Chhattisgarh on July 25. The trio was detained at Durg railway station following allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversion leveled by a local Bajrang Dal member.

During Zero Hour, Congress MPs K C Venugopal and K Suresh called the arrests “deeply disturbing” and “shocking,” asserting the nuns were innocent and engaged in social work, providing palliative care to cancer patients. Venugopal claimed the nuns were manhandled and falsely accused by Bajrang Dal members while traveling to Agra. “They’ve been jailed for five days without reason. Is this a banana republic?” he questioned, revealing that appeals to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister have been ignored.

Suresh echoed the demand for immediate action, emphasizing the nuns’ humanitarian work. The issue sparked protests in the Lok Sabha, with Congress members storming the well and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra standing in solidarity, demanding the nuns’ release.

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Venugopal warned of escalating tensions, noting widespread agitation in Kerala. “If the government doesn’t act, the situation will spiral out of control,” he said, urging swift intervention to free the nuns and address the controversy.

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