Sat Aug 02 17:11:14 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text.
**Summary:**
Two nuns from Kerala were arrested in Durg, Chhattisgarh, on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. They were later released on bail. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh posted a controversial cartoon on X criticizing Congress leaders for supporting the nuns, implying they supported human trafficking and religious conversions. This caused a backlash, with critics saying it mocked Christianity. The BJP deleted the cartoon, citing it “was not the right subject.” The Congress party criticized the BJP’s actions, suggesting they feared electoral losses in Kerala. The nuns’ arrest and the cartoon incident have sparked political controversy in Chhattisgarh.
**News Article:**
**Chhattisgarh BJP Deletes Cartoon Mocking Congress Over Nuns’ Arrest, Sparks Political Firestorm**
**RAIPUR, August 2, 2025** – A cartoon posted and quickly deleted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the social media platform X, depicting Congress leaders bowing to nuns recently arrested in Chhattisgarh, has ignited a political controversy. The cartoon, which alluded to the ongoing legal case against two nuns from Kerala accused of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, was removed after facing criticism for mocking Christianity.
The cartoon featured prominent Congress figures like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and K.C. Venugopal. Critics alleged the cartoon portrayed them as well-wishers of those involved in illicit activities. The nuns, Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, along with a Narayanpur resident, were arrested in Durg on July 25th.
The Congress party in Chhattisgarh responded strongly, accusing the BJP of deleting the post out of fear of electoral repercussions in Kerala, the nuns’ home state. Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla stated, “The arrest of the nuns was wrong and illegal…The BJP government has been exposed in this matter. The BJP has removed this poster fearing [electoral] losses in Kerala.” He further pointed out that individuals whose statements led to the arrest of the nuns have since denied those statements and the Kerala BJP president has opposed the nuns’ arrest.
Somesh Pandey, co-convenor of the BJP’s IT cell in Chhattisgarh, stated the cartoon was removed because “it was not the right subject,” but declined to provide further explanation. Other BJP spokespersons remained unavailable for comment.
The incident underscores the politically charged atmosphere surrounding allegations of religious conversion and human trafficking and adds another layer to the existing tensions between the BJP and Congress in the state. The nuns were released on bail earlier today following a special court ruling in Durg. The investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.
First Piper 