Venugopal Urges Shah, Chhattisgarh CM to Close ‘Fabricated Case’ Against Nuns

Speedy Summary

• Congress MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal, protested outside the Parliament over the arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh on allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversion.
• The nuns from Kerala-Preethy Mary and vandana Francis-and a third person were arrested by Government Railway Police (GRP) after a complaint filed by a Bajrang dal-affiliated individual.
• The arrest was based on accusations that the nuns were forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and trafficking them. However, these charges were labeled “based on mere suspicion” by the court that granted bail after eight days.
• Congress leader K.C. Venugopal wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, calling for closure of what he termed as a “fabricated case,” citing misuse of state power, communal bias, and political motivations behind the arrests.
• He also demanded firs against individuals associated with Bajrang Dal who allegedly attacked the nuns and tribal women involved in this matter.
• The arrests led to protests by United Democratic Front MPs in Parliament demanding justice for the accused nuns while criticizing right-wing vigilante elements like Bajrang Dal for their alleged coercion.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The arrest of Catholic nuns Preethy Mary and Vandana Francis highlights serious concerns over law enforcement’s role in politically charged cases. While courts dismissed evidence as “mere suspicion,” important attention has been drawn to alleged misuse of legal systems influenced by ideological motives. If such incidents are allowed to proceed without robust scrutiny or consequences for baseless accusations-as claimed hear-it risks undermining constitutional protections against harassment for any group.

The issue also underscores recurring tensions between religious communities amid claims that vigilante groups push polarizing agendas under perceived governmental leniency. Accountability mechanisms must ensure victim protection while addressing undue influence from organized entities so public trust remains intact in judicial processes driven purely by evidence-based interventions.

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