Raipur: The two Keralite nuns Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi Mary who were arrested in Chhattisgarh on controversial charges of attempted religious conversion and human trafficking, are expected to submit a bail application today. The case has drawn widespread attention, with mounting demands for justice and transparency.
Amid escalating tensions, political and ecclesiastical delegations continue to mobilize. On directives from BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, party general secretary Anoop Antony is set to arrive in Chhattisgarh today. He is scheduled to meet with the state's Deputy Chief Minister to gather details about the case and assess the situation firsthand.
Meanwhile, a delegation of UDF parliamentarians, including NK Premachandran, Francis George, and Benny Behanan, has returned to Chhattisgarh to express solidarity with the detained nuns and to push for a fair and unbiased inquiry.
Priests active in Chhattisgarh have expressed concern over the arrival of political emissaries, urging that any intervention should focus on truth and reconciliation rather than political gain. Fr. Sabu Joseph of the Raipur Archdiocese, who has been advocating for the nuns’ release, stated that the Kerala BJP representative should help dispel the misinformation prevalent in the region.
He also criticized Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai’s premature claim that the case involved human trafficking. Fr. Sabu Joseph called for a neutral and comprehensive investigation, stressing that only a fair inquiry would bring the actual facts to light and uphold justice.