Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was “making false statements” on the issue.
Dismissing as wrong the allegations that two nuns belonging to a Kerala-based congregation were “attacked” during a train journey via Uttar Pradesh recently, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was “making false statements” on the issue.
At a press conference in Kochi, Me Goyal said: “There was no attack on any nun whatsoever…the Chief Minister of the state (Kerala) is completely lying and making false statements when he says that.”
Mr Goyal further explained that the local police, after receiving a complaint against the nuns, made an investigation whether the complaint was correct.
“There was an allegation. Some people made a complaint (against the nuns). It is the duty of the police to find out whether the complaint is correct or wrong. Police made enquiries. Checked all their documents, made enquiries (to ensure) that they are genuine passengers going for the correct purpose and then immediately let them go,” the Union Minister said, justifying the police action.
Mr Goyal dismissed the allegations that the alleged student activists associated with a Sangh Parivar outfit bogged the nuns down and pulled them out of the train. “That is absolutely wrong”, he said.
If anybody complains, it is the duty of the police to launch an investigation, Mr Goyal said. However he did not say who made the complainant against the nuns.
According to a report by NDTV, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad heckled and forced two nuns and their two novices to get off a train, suspecting them of conducting religious conversion. The said incident took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi. Only after an inquiry at the railway station established there was no conversion involved, the nuns and novices were allowed to proceed with their journey. The ABVP is the student’s wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the BJP.
Home Minister Amit Shah had promised an action in this case. “Those involved in the Jhansi nuns’ harassment incident will be brought before the law,” Mr Shah had said.
The incident that took place on Friday generated a huge uproar, prompting Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to write to Mr Shah earlier, asking for strict action.
“Such incidents tarnish the image of the nation, and its ancient tradition of religious tolerance. Such incidents require utmost condemnation by the Union government. I would request your kind intervention to instruct authorities to take strict action on all groups, individuals who disrupt, impair the freedom of individual rights guaranteed by the constitution,” Mr Vijayan had written.
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