Congress MP from Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a protest in the Parliament complex on Wednesday, demanding the immediate release of two Kerala-based nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh on 26 July.
Authorities took the nuns into custody on charges of human trafficking and forcible religious conversion—charges that Congress has dismissed as fabricated and politically motivated.
Speaking to the press, Priyanka Gandhi said, “The Kerala nuns were mistreated, wrongly accused, and manhandled before being taken away by the Chhattisgarh Police. We are protesting against this kind of attack on minorities.”
BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarified that the arrests resulted from miscommunication and found no evidence of trafficking or conversion. Still, Congress leaders criticised the government and accused it of deliberately targeting minorities.
Priyanka Gandhi added, “We demand an end to these kinds of atrocities against minorities. No one can accuse people of something they have not done. We have already raised this issue in Parliament and will raise it again today.”
She expressed scepticism about the government’s intent to act, stating, “Frankly, the government doesn’t take any action except for their publicity or when elections are near. But it is our duty to raise our voice.”
Delay in Disaster Relief Funds for Wayanad
The protest also comes in the wake of rising public dissatisfaction over the Centre’s delay in providing relief funds to Kerala.
On 2 July, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha it had not released any financial aid under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for 2023–24 and 2024–25, despite Wayanad facing severe floods and landslides.
Reacting to this, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Even though a year has passed, the people who suffered from that tragedy are still struggling. Despite all our efforts and the goodwill shown at the time, they continue to face hardships.”
Highlighting the burden on the state, she revealed that the central government had treated the initial financial assistance as a loan.
“The funds sent were loans, which is unprecedented. It was meant to help them recover, not add to their burden. The Central government should waive these loans—it’s a small amount for them, but life-changing for the people of Wayanad,” she added.
Congress continues to pressure the Centre in Parliament, turning minority rights and disaster relief into key points of contention as it demands justice and accountability.
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