A video of Fr James Panavelil, vicar of Sanjopuram St Joseph’s Church under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, has gone viral on social media, in which he sharply criticises Church leaders who met Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other saffron party leaders with a cake — a gesture of thanks for the party’s claimed role in securing bail for two nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh.

BJP meeting criticised as betrayal of those who supported nuns

Panavelil accused certain Church leaders of betraying the community. He remarked, "We should not fear the enemy outside, but the betrayers within," criticising the decision to meet BJP leaders despite their alleged role in the arrest of the nuns. He said that what was more problematic was not merely the failure to thank the Congress, CPM, and civil society — who truly stood with the nuns — but the decision to meet and celebrate with the very forces responsible for the case.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar had posted photos of the meeting on official social media handles. His Facebook post stated: “Spent time with representatives of the Christian community who visited Mararji Bhavan with a cake to express their joy and gratitude for the BJP’s intervention in securing bail for the nuns in Chhattisgarh.”

Cake, crown, and conscience

Fr Panavelil criticised Church leadership without naming anyone directly. Referencing the BJP’s Christmas outreach, he used the word “cake” to criticise their so-called cake diplomacy. He also referred to the “golden crown” gifted to Lourdes Church by BJP minister Suresh Gopi and mentioned “Suresh Gopi, Thrissur” to denote his Lok Sabha victory.

Addressing the gathering, Panavelil remarked that the laughter and applause following these references showed there were still people in Kerala whose conscience could recognise the falsehoods associated with those gestures.

Praise for Irinjalakuda Bishop’s response to BJP praise

Fr Panavelil expressed support for Bishop Mar Pauly Kannookadan, head of the Irinjalakuda Diocese, who publicly rebuked Thalassery Archbishop Joseph Pamplany for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their purported role in the nuns' release.

Bishop Kannookadan had clarified that only authorised Church leaders could issue statements on its behalf. “Only Church heads are entitled to state the Church’s stand. Individual opinions do not reflect the official view,” he said, implicitly criticising Pamplany’s praise of the Central government.

On Sunday, the Irinjalakuda Diocese issued a pastoral letter that was read during Mass in all its churches. The letter sharply criticised both the Central and Chhattisgarh governments for the arrests and the Centre’s silence amid national protests.

The diocese expressed disappointment that although the nuns were eligible for bail, they were drawn into unwarranted legal complications. It stressed that “the bail granted to the nuns is not a relief but comes with stringent conditions. The charges must be withdrawn, and the charge sheet quashed.” The bishop demanded legal action against right-wing groups like Bajrang Dal, which had filed the complaint, and urged the Centre to act against such extremist organisations and the train ticket examiner allegedly involved in the case.

Background: Arrest of nuns and backlash

Sisters Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, along with Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested by railway police at Durg station on July 25. The arrests followed a complaint by a Bajrang Dal functionary, who accused them of trafficking and forcibly converting three tribal girls. The nuns were released nine days later after securing bail from a special NIA court.

Panavelil’s history of speaking out

Fr Panavelil is known for his bold positions. His 2021 Independence Day speech warning against the rise of far-right Christian alignment in Kerala brought him into the spotlight. In that address, he coined the term ‘Chrisanghi’ to describe such elements.

He has consistently championed inclusivity, introducing LGBTQIA+-themed Christmas stars and even washing the feet of women — actions that drew both acclaim and backlash. He was also among the first to criticise churches that hosted screenings of The Kerala Story. For his outspoken and inclusive stance, Fr Panavelil has been frequently targeted by Christian fundamentalist groups and far-right supporters online.