Keralite priest’s arrest in Maharashtra sparks protests and political uproar in Kerala
Trivandrum: The recent arrest of a Keralite priest, his wife, and 10 others in Nagpur in BJP-ruled Maharashtra on alleged charges of forced religious conversion has sparked widespread outrage in Kerala, igniting protests and political uproar.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Church of south India (CSI) Bishop Sabu Malayil Koshy, secretary of the CSI Bishops’ Council, strongly condemned the action, calling it a blatant violation of constitutional freedoms. “Fr. Sudheer has been serving in Maharashtra’s Nagpur for the past 12 years, focussing on educating children and supporting local communities,” he said. He noted that the activities in question were simply Christmas-related worship services. “The CSI Bishops’ Council strongly condemns this police action,” he added.
Bishop Koshy went on to criticize the silence of political leadership, both at the state and national levels, saying it sends a dangerous message to those engaging in such acts. “Inaction in the face of attacks on religious minorities emboldens the perpetrators,” he added. The CSI Church also pledged to provide full legal support to those arrested and vowed to monitor similar incidents across India.
Political leaders in Kerala too have voiced strong concern over the incident. In a social media post, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the incident as deeply disturbing. “This follows a worrying pattern by the Sangh Parivar of targeting minorities to fuel polarisation, as seen earlier in Jabalpur. Such actions undermine constitutional freedoms.”
Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has written to both the Indian Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. “This incident raises serious concerns about the violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, particularly the freedom to profess, practise, and propagate religion. Arresting individuals for conducting a peaceful prayer meeting is unconstitutional,” he wrote.
This incident comes on the heels of several attacks on Christians in India, particularly during the Christmas season. These developments have further intensified concerns about the security and rights of religious minorities in Modi’s India.
