Condemning the recent arrest of two Roman Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, the Tamil Nadu Minorities Welfare Committee staged a demonstration here on Monday.

The protestors said the nuns, while taking three children to Agra with their parents’ consent, were assaulted by Bajrand Dal members, who also filed a complaint with Narayanpur police that the children were being kidnapped for religious conversion. Without verifying the fact, the police remanded them in judicial custody.

On its part, the judiciary, while hearing their bail pleas, rejected it and directed the NIA to take up investigation even though the children were going along with the nuns with the knowledge of their parents. After steps taken by MPs of various political parties other than the BJP, they were enlarged on bail.

“Since the BJP and the Hindu outfits across the country are spreading religious hatred, the minorities are living in fear after frequent attacks on them and their properties and, hence, those who believe in communal harmony should join hands against these evil forces,” the protestors said.