The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has sharply criticised Chief Minister Lalduhoma and Members of Parliament K. Vanlalvena and Richard Vanlalhmangaiha for what it called their “disappointing silence” over the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh. Addressing a political gathering in Aizawl on Friday, MPCC president Lal Thanzara condemned the July 25 arrest of Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethy Mary, along with a third person, Sukhman Mandavi, by the Government Railway Police at Durg railway station. The arrest followed a complaint from a Bajrang Dal member, who accused the trio of attempting to convert three tribal women from Narayanpur district to Christianity.
Thanzara described the arrests as “arbitrary and discriminatory” and said that the lack of response from Mizoram’s top leadership—particularly from a Christian-majority state—was deeply troubling. “It is very unfortunate that our chief minister and both MPs have chosen to remain silent while members of our community are subjected to such injustice,” he said.He further criticised BJP Mizoram president K. Beichhua, a church elder himself, for failing to speak up. “As both a political and spiritual leader, he has a moral responsibility to condemn such acts,” Thanzara added.The Congress leader welcomed the strong statements made by national Congress figures such as Priyanka Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and Saleng A. Sangma, who have all demanded the unconditional release of the nuns and denounced the arrests as an attack on religious freedom and human dignity.
The MPCC reiterated its demand for justice, stating that the incident was not only a legal issue but a matter of upholding constitutional rights. “This is not about politics—it is about standing for truth, justice, and religious freedom,” said Thanzara. He warned that continued silence from state leaders would only deepen public disillusionment and send the wrong message to the Christian community across India. The Congress party in Mizoram has called for increased political accountability and a united response to safeguard the rights of all religious minorities.
