Kochi: In a rare and blistering editorial, Kerala’s oldest newspaper Deepika has come down heavily on the Sangh Parivar and the ruling BJP over the arrest and alleged mistreatment of two Malayali nuns in Chhattisgarh. The editorial, titled in strong language, calls Bajrang Dal a "terrorist movement" and demands urgent introspection from those holding power at the Centre for allegedly shielding such outfits.
The editorial draws parallels between the plight of minorities in Pakistan and the situation faced by religious minorities in India at the hands of Hindutva groups. It accuses the government of betraying India’s constitutional values while remaining complicit in communal violence and hatred. “This is a country that once stood up to those who killed in the name of religion across the border. Today, it bows before those who do the same within,” the editorial observes.
With pointed references to the recent violence in Chhattisgarh that led to the arrest of the nuns, Deepika questions the silence and inaction against right-wing aggressors, specifically naming Jyoti Sharma a Bajrang Dal activist who allegedly incited violence stating, “There is not even a single case registered against her.” In contrast, two innocent nuns were jailed under harsh conditions alongside 52 other inmates, the paper reports. “This is the model of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’? The slogan now feels like mockery,” the editorial comments with biting sarcasm.
Deepika describes Jyoti Sharma as “a woman who has lost her religion,” emphasizing the moral decay within those promoting hate under the guise of cultural nationalism. The paper accuses Sangh Parivar groups of systematically unleashing atrocities against minorities, calling them a real threat to India’s social harmony.
Drawing a grim historical comparison, the editorial reminds readers of the brutal murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999 a crime linked to Bajrang Dal members. “The organization has a long record of orchestrating violence against Christians,” Deepika asserts. It warns that mob lynchings, targeted killings, and “bulldozer justice” still run rampant, and that no real accountability exists.
The piece points to a calculated campaign to discredit Christian institutions, with calls for Maoist-link probes and surveillance raids following the nuns’ arrest. “Those who demand raids on Christian institutions must have mistaken their ideological textbooks for the Indian Constitution,” Deepika quips.
The editorial concludes on a resolute note, praising Kerala for its steadfast secular response. “Kerala has offered a lesson to the nation that secular redemption is not only necessary, but possible,” it says. The state’s collective protest against communal injustice is hailed as “the victory of fraternity over fanaticism.”
Referring to the massive solidarity campaign in Kerala, the paper asserts, “This is not just about two nuns. This is about the soul of India.” It lauds the human chain that emerged across caste, religion, and political lines, calling it a “modern Indian parable of secular resistance.”
Ending with a firm warning, Deepika states: “Let this human chain, formed not by caste or creed, but by conscience, never be broken.” The editorial emphasizes that the country is watching, and that Kerala has carried the flag of secularism when many others have dropped it.
In a time when press silence often echoes louder than truth, Deepika has chosen not only to speak but to roar.