Tensions escalated as delegations from Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) arrived in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday to address the controversial arrest of two Catholic nuns, Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. The arrests, initiated after a Bajrang Dal complaint at Durg Railway Station on July 25, have sparked a political firestorm, with accusations of minority persecution flying between parties.

The UDF delegation, including MPs Benny Behannan, Francis George, and N K Premachandran, condemned the arrests as a “deliberate and calculated move” and vowed to secure the nuns’ release. “We’ll meet the nuns in prison and press officials for their immediate release,” Behannan told media, alleging the Chhattisgarh government’s complicity. Francis George questioned how offering jobs at a convent could be labeled trafficking, calling the arrests a violation of constitutional freedoms of movement and religion.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s Kerala unit, under fire from rivals and the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), sent General Secretary Anoop Antony to meet Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister to gather details. “Our goal is a justifiable intervention,” Antony stated, emphasizing the need to navigate Chhattisgarh’s distinct circumstances. The BJP’s move follows visits by Kerala Ministers P Rajeev and Roshy Augustine, directed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and a UDF delegation led by V D Satheesan, both expressing solidarity with Sister Preethi’s family.

Also Read: TN CM Stalin Slams Shocking Harassment of Kerala Nuns in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai defended the arrests, citing concerns for “the safety of our daughters of Bastar” and accusing critics of politicizing the issue. The KCBC slammed the arrests as “painful and unacceptable,” urging central intervention.

As both sides dig in, the controversy underscores broader tensions over minority rights in BJP-ruled states, with Kerala’s political landscape bracing for further fallout ahead of the 2026 elections.

Also Read: CM Sai Urges Focus on Women's Safety After Nuns' Arrest Sparks Political Storm