Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led a protest in Parliament on Wednesday, July 30, alongside fellow Kerala MPs against the recent arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh’s Durg station. The nuns, accused of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, were reportedly taken into custody under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act. Gandhi strongly condemned the arrest, claiming the women were “manhandled” and falsely accused. “These are targeted attacks on minorities,” she said, demanding accountability and justice.
Interestingly, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who had participated in a similar protest the previous day, was notably absent from today’s demonstration. His absence has intensified ongoing speculation about his strained relationship with the Congress leadership. Tharoor’s recent public praise of the BJP-led Centre’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack and his refusal to speak during the Operation Sindoor debate—citing integrity over party lines—have further distanced him from the party’s inner circle. Despite this, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the nation over any political allegiance.
The controversy around the nuns’ arrest has ignited a larger political firestorm. While Opposition parties, led by Congress, allege it is a case of minority persecution, the BJP has defended the Chhattisgarh government’s actions. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated his administration was acting to protect young tribal girls, while BJP’s Kerala unit insisted the nuns were innocent and promised support for their release. Christian organizations and civil society groups have joined the protest chorus, accusing the state of suppressing religious freedom in violation of constitutional rights.
