Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (ANK/TP)
Mangaluru/Udupi, Aug 4: The Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh and Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh, supported by the respective dioceses and several Christian organisations, staged protests in Mangaluru and Udupi on August 4, condemning the recent arrest of two Christian nuns in Chhattisgarh.
The protests were held at Mini Vidhana Soudha, Mangaluru, and Martyrs’ Memorial, Ajjarkad, Udupi, in response to the arrest of Sr Vandana Francis and Sr Preethi on July 25 on allegations of forced religious conversion. The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the Christian community, which has condemned the arrests as false and baseless.
In Mangaluru, Rolphy D’Costa, former president of the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, said, “The sisters have been falsely accused of conversion and human trafficking based on a complaint filed by miscreants. These nuns are innocent. The Christian community is a peace-loving one, and we stand by the truth.”
Sr Severine Menezes of the Sisters of St Ann’s Providence said, “We have sacrificed our families, friends, and personal lives to serve society. We neither fear nor instill fear in others. We stand with the poor and the needy, offering support and spreading faith. During calamities like the Tsunami and the Kerala floods, we who form just 2% of the population were among the first to step forward and help. Our community may be small, but we are strong. Attempts to suppress us will not succeed – we will rise.”
Roy Castelino, PRO of the Mangaluru Diocese, stated, “We demand an apology for the wrongful arrest of two innocent nuns. Christians make up only 2% of India’s population and 4% in Karnataka. If we were truly involved in conversions, our numbers would have significantly increased by now.”
Stany Lobo, another former president of the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, added, “We will not stop here. The Christian community has never been involved in human trafficking or forced conversions, and we will continue our protest until justice is served.”
Santhosh D’Souza, president of the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, welcomed the gathering. The event was compered by Lawrence D’Souza.
Christian community gave the nation ‘Beti Padhao’; can the nation now give back: Suraiyya Anjum in Udupi
In Udupi, Congress national spokesperson Suraiyya Anjum questioned the nation’s conscience, saying, “The Christian community gave the nation ‘Beti Padhao’; can the nation now give back with ‘Beti Bachao’ for them? When we think of education and healthcare, the Christian community immediately comes to mind. They laid the foundation for education in India, long before it became a national priority. Christian institutions have always extended support through education and selfless service. If Christians were really converting people, would Muslims and Hindus still exist today? This protest is for truth and peace. The silence of those who watched the nuns being harassed speaks volumes about their own values. We stand firm by the Constitution. While Bajarangdal may bow to saffron flags, we uphold and respect the tricolour. This is not just the Christian community’s fight, it is a fight for every woman. I hope this is the last time injustice is meted out to nuns.”
Speaking on the occasion, Gananath Yekkar emphasised the need to speak out against any form of injustice, especially when it targets women, religion, or communities. “We are not asking for privileges, we are demanding human rights. Over 50 lakh people benefit from Catholic institutions, of which around 48 lakh belong to other religions. Christian missionaries were pioneers of education in India and have made immense contributions to the sector. Constitutional unity must be ensured. Just as religion is important, equal rights must be guaranteed to all. We must follow the fundamental principles of the Constitution. The authoritarian mindset must be uprooted right from its base. It must be buried at its origin, and our core values must be preserved. Ours is one of the world’s most progressive constitutions, and we revere Dr B R Ambedkar for it. The Christian faith has come under attack, and those responsible must face strict action. Without unity and brotherhood, a country cannot remain truly free. Religion must not be politicised. Every faith has its holy book, but for Indians, the Constitution is supreme and we must protect it. We strongly condemn this injustice and demand justice be delivered. The guilty must be punished.”
Ronald Almeida, president of the Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh, expressed concern over the increasing attacks on the Christian community. “This is the second wave of anti-Christian acts. We can no longer stay silent. It’s time to take a stand against this violence. First, our places of worship were targeted, now our nuns are being attacked. The recent release of the nuns is not the end of the matter, it’s a signal that such incidents may be used as political gains in the upcoming elections.” He firmly demanded that the false FIRs filed against the nuns be withdrawn and that strict action be taken against those responsible for the harassment.
Vicar General Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, chancellor Dr Stephen D'Souza, public relations officer Fr Denis Desa, Episcopal Vicar of Religious Fr Joe Tauro, associate professor Phaniraj, ICYM Udupi Diocese president Nitin Barretto, Catholic Sabha secretary Joel, Vicar General of Brahmavar Syrian Orthodox Congregation Fr MC Mathai, Karnataka Southern Diocese Udupi area chairman Pastor Kishore, priests of various congregations, religious sisters, and thousands of Christians were present.
A petition was submitted to the President of India, the prime minister, and the chief minister of Chhattisgarh through signatures collected from all the churches of the diocese during the protest.
The appeal was read out by Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh president-designate Louis D'Souza, president of Sugamya Mahila Okkuta Silvia Suvares proposed a vote of thanks, and social activist Veronica Cornelio compered the program.
A memorandum was submitted to Udupi deputy commissioner Swaroopa T K. Silviya delivered the vote of thanks and spokesperson Veronica Cornelio compered the event.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court had granted conditional bail to the two nuns on August 2. In both Mangaluru and Udupi, a strong show of solidarity was evident as community leaders, activists, and citizens gathered to denounce the harassment faced by the nuns and demand justice.