New Delhi: Amid mounting protests and widespread condemnation from Christian communities across India, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has decided to seek an in-person meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CBCI leadership announced that it will formally request an appointment to express serious concerns over the arrest of two Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh and the broader pattern of hostility faced by Christians in the country.
The CBCI said it would also consider approaching the President of India as part of a broader attempt to ensure constitutional rights are safeguarded. “This is not just about two religious sisters it is about the continued violation of the secular fabric of our Constitution,” said CBCI spokespersons during a press briefing. They emphasized the need for a permanent solution to the ongoing targeting of Christian communities, particularly in tribal regions and states with active extremist elements.
The protest within the Church is growing stronger by the day. Catholic institutions and lay organizations have stepped up their response, with rallies, prayer vigils, and press briefings occurring across multiple dioceses. The Church’s official media outlet Deepika went as far as to state that "it is not the nuns who were taken hostage, but the secular Constitution itself.”
Meanwhile, within the wider Christian spectrum, there has also been criticism of Church leadership’s delay in responding. Bishop Yuhanon Mar Milithios Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church’s Thrissur Diocese voiced sharp disapproval, urging bolder and more proactive engagement from ecclesiastical authorities.
Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis members of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate remain in judicial custody at Durg Central Jail. They have been charged under non-bailable sections including forced religious conversion and human trafficking, following a complaint lodged by Bajrang Dal activists. The nuns were arrested while accompanying a group of tribal girls from Narayanpur to Agra. A Christian lay brother who was with them has also been named as a co-accused.
Church representatives, who have traveled to Durg from Kerala and other states, have opted not to file a bail application immediately. Sources indicate that the decision was taken to allow more time to fully study the charges and strategize legally. A bail plea is likely to be filed within the next 24 hours.
The CBCI’s move to personally meet the Prime Minister is being seen as a significant escalation, reflecting the alarm and urgency with which the Church views the current wave of repression. Church leaders stress that while they are prepared to engage constructively, they also expect accountability and tangible protection of minority rights from the highest levels of government.