Congress MP KC Venugopal on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP following the arrest of a Christian priest in Nagpur, alleging that minorities are being deliberately targeted for practising their faith.

Calling the incident “highly condemnable,” Venugopal accused the ruling party of pushing a “hate-driven agenda of religious bigotry” and misusing state machinery to selectively harass Christians.

In a post on X, the senior Congress leader said that growing political polarisation in BJP-ruled states has made life increasingly difficult for religious minorities. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIR filed against the priest and sought strict action against members of the Bajrang Dal, whom he accused of instigating the case through intimidation and “hooliganism.”

Venugopal asserted that those undermining India’s secular foundations should face punishment, not citizens engaged in peaceful religious activity.

The controversy erupted after Maharashtra Police arrested 12 people, including Father Sudhir, a Malayali priest associated with the CSI South Kerala Diocese’s Nagpur Mission, and his wife, Jasmine. The arrests followed a complaint allegedly lodged by Bajrang Dal activists, claiming forced religious conversion during a Christmas prayer meeting held in Nagpur.

Kerala Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan also strongly criticised the arrests and raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In a formal letter, Satheesan described the police action as unconstitutional and urged immediate intervention to secure the release of all those detained.

According to Satheesan, the arrests took place around 8 pm during the prayer gathering. He further alleged that individuals who later visited the police station to enquire about the incident were also taken into custody, with cases registered against them as well.

The Kerala LoP noted that Father Sudhir hails from Amaravila in Thiruvananthapuram district and has been serving in Maharashtra for the past five years. The remaining arrested individuals are residents of Maharashtra.

All 12 are currently being held at Benoda Police Station and are expected to be produced before a court. Attempts by CSI representatives to secure bail at the police station were unsuccessful, with authorities directing them to approach the court instead.

Satheesan said the incident raises serious constitutional concerns, stressing that freedom of religion is a fundamental right. Arresting individuals for conducting a peaceful prayer meeting, he said, goes against India’s democratic and secular principles.