Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 6 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday described the alleged harassment and arrest of Kerala nuns at Durg railway station as a ‘serious matter related to women’s safety’.

In a post on X, CM Sai stated that three girls from Narayanpur were promised nursing training and were subsequently handed over to two nuns at Durg station by an individual from Narayanpur district. He claimed that the girls were being taken to Agra and that inducements were used in an attempt to engage them in human trafficking and religious conversion.

‘Three daughters from Narayanpur were promised nursing training and subsequent job placements. They were handed over to two nuns at Durg station by a person from Narayanpur, who were taking the girls to Agra. Through inducement, an attempt was being made to engage in human trafficking and conversion. This is a serious matter related to women’s safety. The investigation in this case is still ongoing. The matter is under judicial review, and the law will take its course,’ CM Sai wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel criticised the state government over the incident and alleged that minorities are not safe in India.

‘Today, this matter was raised in the Lok Sabha; before that, our Congress party’s national general secretary wrote a letter to the Chief Minister here, and today there was a protest in the Lok Sabha as well. Minorities are not safe in the nation. Wherever the BJP is in power, they target the minorities for their votes so that polarisation can be done...’ Baghel told ANI.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Hibi Eden also submitted an adjournment motion in Parliament seeking a discussion on the ‘recent attack’ on Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh.

In his letter to the Lok Sabha Secretary General, Eden stated: ‘The recent terror attack specifically targeting nuns and forcing them to hide their attire, including the Thiru Vasthram, is a matter of grave concern. The incident raises serious questions about the safety and security of religious minorities in our country. Given the gravity of the situation and the potential implications for communal harmony and national security, it is imperative that the House discuss this matter at the earliest opportunity.’

He further wrote: ‘To move that the House do adjourn its sitting till the government makes a statement on the recent terror attack targeting nuns, forcing them to hide their attire, and the measures being taken to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities.’

‘The government's response to this incident and the measures it proposes to take to prevent such incidents in the future are of the utmost importance,’ he added.

On July 27, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) had also strongly condemned the alleged incident. According to CBCI, the women had explicit written permission from their parents but were physically assaulted after being arrested.

The CBCI stated: ‘Such incidents not only threaten the modesty of women but also put their lives in grave danger. These repeated, unwarranted actions are a serious violation of the Constitution and cannot be tolerated.’

(ANI)