Thiruvananthapuram: A wave of anguish and defiance swept through the heart of Kerala's capital as hundreds of members of the Christian community staged a powerful protest rally, voicing their indignation over the arrest and continued detention of two Malayali Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh. The demonstration, led by senior Church leaders, began at the historic Raktasakshi Mandapam in Palayam and culminated in a fervent gathering in front of Raj Bhavan.
Dressed in black to symbolize mourning and resistance, protesters from all walks of life joined the rally organized by the Thiruvananthapuram Catholic Forum, with active participation from priests, nuns, seminarians, lay faithful, and various church organizations. The solemn procession was not just a protest it was a collective cry for justice, dignity, and the preservation of secular values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
At the forefront of the rally was KCBC President Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, whose thunderous speech resonated with a mix of sorrow and righteous fury. Clapping his hands to rouse the crowd, he called for unshakable solidarity with the imprisoned nuns, describing their life and mission as the “living gospel of India’s secular promise.”
“These nuns have been beacons of selfless service. They’ve pulled thousands out of poverty and brought hope to the neglected. Their work is not fringe it is foundational to the soul of India,” he asserted. “And yet, they’ve been thrown behind bars. They weren’t given justice they were handed over to a mob trial.”
The Cardinal’s question “Is this what secular democracy has come to?” pierced the conscience of the crowd. His voice trembled with emotion as he condemned the reaction from sections of the public who celebrated when the Durg Sessions Court denied bail to the nuns. “Is our democracy so weakened that it dances at the denial of justice to women who dedicated their lives to the downtrodden?”
He further demanded an official explanation for the prolonged detention of the two nuns. “The government owes this nation a transparent answer. What is the justification for keeping them behind bars for six days without conclusive evidence?” he asked.
Other Church leaders, including Archbishop Thomas J. Netto, Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, and Bishop Christudas, echoed similar sentiments, warning against the rising trend of criminalizing Christian humanitarian work under the guise of fabricated allegations. They emphasized that what is unfolding is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of intimidation against minority communities.
The protest concluded with a silent prayer for justice, unity, and the immediate release of the two nuns. But the message from the streets of Thiruvananthapuram was loud and clear: the conscience of secular India cannot be allowed to be buried under mob mentality and political silence. The faithful have spoken and they are watching.