Thiruvananthapuram: In a passionate and pointed address during a protest march to Raj Bhavan, Malankara Catholic Major Archbishop and Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis launched a scathing critique of the ongoing detention of two Keralite Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, questioning the very basis of the action and the silence of those in power. The protest was organized by the Samyuktha Sabhas (United Ecclesiastical Forums) demanding immediate justice and the release of the nuns.
Cardinal Cleemis drew attention to a startling contradiction: “When the BJP’s own state president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, publicly admits that the allegations against the nuns are not true, then why this unnecessary scolding and harassment?” he asked, with visible anguish. “Is mere release enough after what they’ve endured?” Cleemis pressed further, emphasizing that the issue is not just about release, but about dignity, justice, and accountability for the trauma inflicted.
Speaking to a large gathering of protestors under the scorching Kerala sun, the Cardinal hailed the role of nuns as the enduring symbols of India’s moral and social fabric. “These sisters are not just part of the Church, they are the living spirit of our nation’s villages—fulfilling Gandhiji’s dream of ‘Gram Swaraj’. They bring health, hope, and healing to the remotest corners of India,” Cleemis said. “Yet today, these same women are subjected to public humiliation and mob trials, and denied bail while others cheer their misfortune. Is this the ‘Arsha Bharat’ culture we are proud of?”
Condemning the celebration by certain fringe groups over the denial of bail, Cleemis referred to the six days the nuns spent in detention in Kalturk, calling it a direct assault on India's secular and democratic values. He demanded that those responsible for their wrongful detention be held accountable and punished according to law. “Justice is not merely their release it must include consequences for those who trample upon it.”
Cardinal Cleemis didn’t shy away from addressing the deeper ideological tensions that lie beneath such arrests. “For over 2000 years, Christians have been accused of conversion. Yet, we still remain just two percent of the population. How does that even add up?” he asked, challenging the logic of the anti-conversion hysteria that has fueled suspicion and violence against Christian communities.
He expressed concern that despite the storm of allegations, the ruling authorities have shown no real will to resolve the issue fairly. “The truth is that minorities no longer feel safe. That is the reality. But if some believe that such oppression will force the Church to lay down the Gospel, they are mistaken. Christian faith will endure in this country till the last believer stands.”
Reaffirming the non-political nature of the protest, Cleemis stated clearly: “This is not a rebellion against any government. This is a cry for constitutional justice. For the right to serve, to believe, and to be free from harassment.” His closing words were both a warning and a prayer: “There will be churches in India as long as there are Christians. And as long as there is injustice, we will raise our voices.”
As the chants for justice echoed outside Raj Bhavan, Cardinal Cleemis’ words captured the pain, pride, and resilience of a community under siege steadfast in faith, and unshaken in its resolve to seek justice.