Nuns' arrest: BJP Kerala chief rejects Chhattisgarh CM's conversion allegations

BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar categorically made it clear that his party would make all possible attempts to release the nuns from jail and bring them back home safe.

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday said that the two nuns from kerala held in Chhattisgarh were not involved in trafficking or conversion activities.

The statement comes amidst strong attack by the Congress and the CPI(M) against the BJP in Kerala over the issue. A delegation of I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs from Kerala called on the nuns at Chhattisgarh on Tuesday and strongly flayed the action against the nuns by the BJP government there.

Chandrasekhar told reporters that the party Kerala general secretary Anoop Antony already went to Chhattisgarh and the party was extending all possible help.

"I myself will go if required. The BJP is determined to ensure the safety of nuns. The Congress is playing opportunistic politics," he added.

The statement of Chandrasekhar contradicts with that of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who had said that the two nuns from Kerala, Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, were involved in conversion and trafficking.

Anoop Antony, who met Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma, told reporters that the state government assured all possible measures to help the nuns. The law will take its own course. He also added that the anti-conversion law introduced in Chhattisgarh during the time of Congress rule was very strong.

A delegation of I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs from Kerala visited the nuns on Tuesday.

RSP MP N K Premachandran and Congress MP Benny Behnan said that the nuns suffered severe torture from the Bajrang Dal activists in the presence of the police.

"All the three girls were aged above 18 and they were taken with the consent of their parents. All of them were also having valid identity cards. The nuns were not involved in any illegal activities. Even then they were yet to get bail. The Chhattisgarh government is under the pressure of Bajrang Dal activists," they alleged.

Brother of nun Preethi Mary also accompanied the delegation along with Congress MLA from Kerala Roj M John.