Kochi: A deep sense of dismay and indignation echoed through Kerala’s ecclesiastical corridors as Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Thalassery voiced strong criticism against the Chhattisgarh government's move to oppose bail for the two arrested Keralite nuns. Speaking to the media, the Archbishop described the prosecution’s defiance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier assurance as "deeply regrettable and politically troubling."
Archbishop Pamplany noted that Amit Shah’s intervention had raised widespread hope that the legal ordeal of the nuns would soon end. “The Home Minister had publicly assured Kerala MPs that the government would not object to the bail plea. Yet, in an abrupt and mysterious shift, the Chhattisgarh government ignored even the words of the Union Home Minister. This is both unfortunate and unacceptable,” he said.
The Archbishop questioned the integrity of a system where the central government's position can be so casually undermined by a state administration, particularly in a case that has already ignited national concern and condemnation. He emphasized that the time had come for the Centre to step in decisively to correct what he described as a miscarriage of justice.
“We are not living under mob rule but in a democracy. When justice is denied by state mechanisms and the prosecution acts contrary to the government’s stated position, whom should the citizens trust? Where should the innocent go?” he asked.
He also addressed the larger narrative of "forced conversion" that is often weaponized against Christian missionaries. “If someone shouts ‘conversion’ forty times an hour, it doesn’t make it true,” Pamplany said, emphasizing that the arrested nuns were only offering service and shelter to the marginalized not coercing anyone into religion.
Highlighting the government's failure to contain the activities of extremist groups that routinely harass minority communities, the Archbishop added, “The state seems powerless before these vigilante forces. Yet it moves swiftly and decisively against innocent nuns who are peacefully contributing to society through healthcare and education.”
Archbishop Pamplany’s remarks add to the rising chorus of political, religious, and civil society leaders across India calling the arrest of the two nuns a fabricated and targeted move. The clergy, rights groups, and parliamentarians have demanded immediate withdrawal of the false charges and unconditional release of the detained individuals.
In closing, Pamplany warned that if the government continues to ignore peaceful appeals and reasoned dialogue, the streets will bear witness to the people's resistance. “When justice is denied in silence, protest becomes a moral obligation,” he stated.