Kochi: Federal Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on March 29 dismissed as wrong the allegations that two nuns belonging to a Kerala-based congregation were “attacked” during a train journey in Uttar Pradesh.
Goyal accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of “making false statements” on the issue.
“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,” Goyal told a press conference in Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala.
The alleged incident that occurred at Jhansi railway station in Uttar Pradesh state on March 19 had its echoes in poll-bound Kerala with Chief Minister Vijayan taking it up with the federal government and Home Minister Amit Shah promising strong action.
Goyal said the local police probed a complaint against the nuns.
“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 minister said justifying the police action.
The Railway Minister 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.
The minister said if anybody complains, it is the duty of the police to launch an investigation.
The minister did not say who made the complainant against the nuns.
According to officials in Jhansi, the nuns were detained on March 19 after local Bajrang Dal activists complained that two women were allegedly being taken forcibly for religious conversion.
The police had said there was no basis in the complaint and all four women later took the next train to their destination in Odisha.
Shah, who was in Kerala to campaign for the party ahead of the April 6 Assembly polls, had said, “I want to assure the people of Kerala that the culprits behind this incident will be brought to justice at the earliest.”
The issue was raised before Shah by BJP’s Kanjirappally Assembly candidate and former federal minister K J Alphonse.
In a memorandum addressed to Shah, Alphonse had said, “Such incidents perpetrated by fringe elements and groups create a sense of insecurity in our minority community.”
Kerala BJP general secretary George Kurian had written to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the issue.
Lashing out at the BJP over the incident, Chief Minister Vijayan had urged the federal to take action, saying such incidents tarnish the image of the nation.
In his letter to Shah, Vijayan had sought strict action against those “who disrupt and impair the freedom of individual rights” guaranteed by the Constitution.
Vijayan had told reporters that the Constitution gives freedom to everyone in the country to believe and not to believe in any religion.
He had also alleged that Uttar Pradesh is notorious for such matters.
“All such illegal activities are taking place under the BJP government there. It should also be taken seriously that all this is happening on an uncontrolled scale,” Vijayan had said.
Source: indianexpress.com
BJP state president of Kerala Mr. Kurian must explain the statement of piyush goyal.
Mr Kurian writes to the central leadership of the incident and Piyush washes it down.
Can one see what ideology difference can do. The bonafide travelers were made to deboard the train on suspicion.
The police must be implicated in this case because the complain was not verifed
Goyal was a former student of a Catholic school. This is the reward we get in educating the elite.
Goyal says that if anybody complains,it is the duty of the police to launch investigation. Here it must be made known who complained and what was the complaint. If they were suspected murderers or rapists or dangerous anti national activists, police can secretly watch them and can assess to some extent. There is no justification to drag passengers out of the train on simple allegations. Goyal has enacted a law called anti conversion act just to catch some Christians and Muslims to harass . There are rules that for I g anyone to say or do something g without his/ her will is illegal and punishable. Here the forcibly converted person has not complained. By conversion what Goyal means we do not know. If they find anyone bearing a cross on his chain can be suspected as converted forcibly. In the case under question, even if some complained that these nuns are indulging in forced conversion, the authority can inform the police station of the passengers’ destination to deal with the matter further. Where is the need for goondaism and mob shouting . If Goyal if convinced and wants to follow another religion, is it sin, punishable, anti national . Even Advani did not condemn his sister and brother in law though they are Christians. Christianity is neither dangerous or fearceful even if we see some bad Christians.
Mr Goyal, your statement is misleading. The complainants took law in their hands and forcibly made the nuns to alight mid journey. Is this correct? The tears of innocent never go in vain, because then Almighty intervenes and does justice.
Goyal says there was a complaint against the nuns.. Whenever there is a complaint against a citizen, the Sangh parivar is given the power of investigation ,prosecution and judgment. Goyal should have known that he was speaking to the people of Kerala . Kerala people whether they belong to any religion or no religion have a sense of justice and they do not want anything more than the protection of the Holy Constitution. It is not anybody’s alms but their right. That is why even the BJP authority in Kerala took up the matter with the U.P Administration. It is shameful that an educated man like Goyal close their sense of truth and justice when another community is involved. Goyal should ask his conscience whether his utterance is sheer opportunistic,selfish and foolish.
When the complaint made against the nuns has turned out to be false, the complainants should be punished for harassment and booked under relevant sections of the IPC.
Mr. Goyal, the nation cannot be fooled with your false statements. Your trying to save your terrorist followers will not wash.
Goyal is indulging in hair splitting because he is acutely aware of the political fallout in the Kerala elections. Hope the Christians in Kerala don’t fall for these gimmicks.
Harassment and obstruction of travel just because they were religious nuns accompanying postulants, is an attack on their freedom of movement. To the Railway Minister only a physical attack is to be considered as an ATTACK as happens to Christians most of the time. When the nuns were found innocent of the alleged ‘crime’ what exemplary punishment is to be given to their accusers? Wait and see!