Media Release
Udupi, Jul 29: Indian Christian Federation’s Karnataka state president, Prashant Jathanna, has strongly condemned the arrest of two Kerala-origin Christian nuns in Chhattisgarh on what he described as false charges. He has urged prime minister Narendra Modi to immediately intervene in the matter and ensure justice for the Christian community.
The nuns, Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preeti Mary members of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Assisi were reportedly arrested in Chhattisgarh following baseless allegations made by certain organisations. They were accused of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, though preliminary information suggests these accusations are unfounded. The nuns had reportedly taken consent letters from the parents of young women whom they accompanied to convents in Agra for domestic work.
According to available information, church representatives have not been allowed to meet the arrested nuns. Furthermore, the young women in question are allegedly being pressured to change their statements and to claim that they were taken against their will. However, no evidence of coercion or forced conversion has emerged.
Prashant Jathanna expressed concern over the rising incidents of harassment and violence against the Christian community, particularly in North India. He cited a pattern of mob attacks, police cases, and assaults on institutions run by churches. He pointed out that such incidents are often ignored by BJP-led state governments, which contributes to their growing frequency.
According to the United Christian Forum (UCF), incidents targeting Christians have surged alarmingly from 127 reported cases in 2014 to 834 in 2024. This trend, Prashant Jathanna noted, reflects an organized and growing threat against minority communities in India.
He criticised the silence of BJP governments and described the arrests as part of a systematic campaign to intimidate and harass Christians under the guise of law. He appealed to the prime minister, who leads the nation with the motto "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," to uphold justice and secular values.