Thrissur: In a significant outreach effort, BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar visited the headquarters of the Thrissur Archdiocese today as part of the party's mission to mend strained ties with the Christian community following the recent arrest of two Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh.
The high-level meeting took place behind closed doors, with Chandrasekhar accompanied by Padmaja Venugopal. Notably, BJP district leaders were kept out of the discussion, signaling the sensitivity and strategic nature of the engagement. The talks were held with Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), and Auxiliary Bishop Mar Tony Neelankavil.
Discussions focused on the concerns raised by the Church regarding the treatment of Christian religious personnel and the broader implications of the recent incident in Chhattisgarh. Church leaders conveyed their disappointment over the arrest and emphasized the need for safeguarding the dignity and freedom of religious minorities in India.
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath categorically conveyed to Rajeev Chandrasekhar that the immediate and unconditional release of the two arrested Keralite nuns remains the Church's singular and non-negotiable agenda. He stressed that all discussions, political engagements, and legal strategies would revolve around this core demand. The Archbishop made it clear that the Church views the arrest not just as an isolated incident but as a matter of religious dignity and human rights, and that securing justice for the nuns is paramount before any broader conversation on Church-government relations can proceed.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, according to sources within the Archdiocese, assured the leadership of his personal and political commitment to resolving the issue. The meeting also touched upon the importance of restoring mutual trust and ensuring continued dialogue between the Church and the political establishment.
The visit marks a rare and focused political effort to engage with ecclesiastical leadership at a time of heightened concern in Kerala’s Christian community. The Church’s response to the visit was described as "cautiously receptive," with further developments expected in the coming days.