Union Ministers Suresh Gopi, George Kurian come under fire from LDF for remaining silent on arrest of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh

Union Minister Suresh Gopi has drawn flak from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala for allegedly maintaining silence on the arrests of two Keralite nuns on “questionable charges” of forced conversion and human trafficking in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Chattisgarh on July 25. 

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday (July 30, 2025), Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty said Mr. Gopi, while contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Thrissur constituency in 2024, continually toured churches and even offered a golden circlet to Mother Mary as a token of piety and devotion. 

Mr. Sivankutty said Mr. Gopi’s “speechlessness” on the issue was surprising, given the latter’s demonstrative affinity for Christians and their faith. 

He said Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian also appeared “least concerned” that the Chhattisgarh police had arrested Sisters Vandana Francis and Preeta Mary of the order of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI) on “fake charges” of forced conversion and human trafficking at the behest of local Bajrang Dal workers. 

(Mr. Kurian had stated on Monday that his constitutional office constrained him from coming on a case that was still sub judice. BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar later endorsed Mr. Kurian’s position.”

Mr. Sivankutty said the BJP’s political outreach to minorities, chiefly Christians in Kerala, was double-faced and duplicitous. “The BJP’s governments in north Indian States are singularly responsible for allowing extreme Hindu right-wing groups free rein to hound, harass and persecute minorities, primarily Christians. Now, nuns are their target. Soon, the Sangh Parivar will catch priests and Church-run institutions in the cross hairs,” he added. 

Earlier, the Minister called on the president of the Catholic  Bishops Conference in Kerala, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, who is currently the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, at the latter’s official residence at Pattom in Thiruvananthapuram. 

After the meeting, Cardinal Cleemis told reporters that the nuns should get justice.

“The outcome of the case will be the sole yardstick of any future friendship or camaraderie. The sisters are still in prison. All should practise what they preach and show sincerity in friendship. The sisters should get justice,” he added.