AICU condemns arrest of Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, demands immediate release

By A Representative

The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has strongly condemned the arrest of two Catholic nuns and their tribal aide in Chhattisgarh, calling it a grave assault on religious freedom and a reflection of growing anti-Christian violence in India. In a statement released on August 1, 2025, the AICU demanded the unconditional release of Sister Preetha Mary and Sister Vandana Francis of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), along with their aide Sukhman Mandavi, who were detained on July 25 at Durg Railway Station.

The three were accused of human trafficking and forced religious conversion while accompanying three young Christian women traveling to Agra for employment opportunities. According to the AICU, the women, all adults, had written consent letters from their families and confirmed they were Christians traveling of their own volition. Despite this, the nuns were allegedly attacked by a woman affiliated with the Sangh Parivar inside the railway police station, with police personnel failing to intervene.

The AICU condemned the involvement of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), typically tasked with terrorism cases, in a matter it described as based on baseless allegations. A sessions court in Durg transferred the case to the NIA on July 30, prolonging the detention of the nuns. The refusal of bail and swift escalation to the NIA court, the AICU said, underscored the politicization of the legal process and the complicity of state authorities.

The arrest has sparked protests across India, especially in Kerala, the home state of the nuns. Members of both ruling and opposition parties in Kerala demonstrated outside Parliament, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called the arrests a blatant display of the Sangh Parivar’s agenda and sought immediate action.

The AICU linked the incident to a broader trend of escalating violence against Christians, particularly in BJP-ruled states. Citing data from the United Christian Forum, the union noted a sharp increase in attacks against Christians—from 127 incidents in 2014 to 834 in the past decade. In 2025 alone, cases of church vandalism, clergy harassment, and disrupted religious services have continued unabated. The AICU criticized the misuse of laws like the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act to harass minorities and drew attention to past acts of violence, including the 1999 murder of missionary Graham Staines and his sons.

Calling for justice, the AICU demanded the immediate release of the detained nuns, an independent investigation into the role of Bajrang Dal members and police complicity, repeal of anti-conversion laws, and concrete government action to protect minorities and curb religious violence.

Comments

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Another 'honor' killing in Tamil Nadu: Caste pride has murdered love, again

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Once again, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a brutal so-called 'honor' killing. This time, it is Kevin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old software engineer from the Scheduled Caste community, who has been hacked to death by the family of the girl he loved since childhood. Kevin, a brilliant student employed at Tata Consultancy Services, was in a relationship with Subashini, his schoolmate and girlfriend. The couple, both well-educated and professionally qualified, had plans to marry. Yet, that love story ended in bloodshed — sacrificed at the altar of caste pride.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Iran-Israel escalation: Shift in regional military dynamics, challenging the balance of power in Middle-East

By Raqif Makhdoomi On a night that stunned many across the world, sirens blared across Israeli cities, warning of incoming missile strikes. Buildings were damaged, civilians rushed to bunkers, and flames lit up the skyline. This time, the threat did not originate from Gaza—but from Iran. The April 2025 Iranian missile attack on Israel marked a significant moment in the broader Middle East conflict, challenging long-held perceptions of military supremacy in the region.

From Kailasa to Lodonia: The business of inventing nations in India

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* This is the story of India—and the 'ideas' and 'imagination' that shape it. Some years ago, someone announced the creation of the 'United States of Kailasa,' a fictional nation 'founded' by Swami Nithyananda, who remains wanted in multiple criminal cases in India, including rape and murder. Remarkably, representatives of this fabricated country even managed to 'participate' in various United Nations events, including sessions of CEDAW in Geneva.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Search This Blog