Piyush Goyal Says 'No Attack' On Nuns In UP; Targets Kerala CM For Making 'False Statements'
He also rubbished allegations that alleged student activists associated with a Sangh Parivar outfit bogged down the nuns and pulled them out of the train stating “that is absolutely wrong”.
Dubbing as baseless the allegations of attack on two nuns belonging to a Kerala-based congregation in Uttar Pradesh recently, Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday trained his guns on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the poll-bound state and alleged he is “completely lying and making false statements”.
“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,” PTI quoted Goyal as saying during a press conference in Kochi.
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He also rubbished allegations that alleged student activists associated with a Sangh Parivar outfit bogged down the nuns and pulled them out of the train stating “that is absolutely wrong”.
The Union Minister further said the local police investigated the matter after receiving 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,” Goyal said.
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Justifying the police action, he said it is the duty of the men in uniform to launch a probe on receiving any complaint.
The incident took place at the Jhansi railway station in Uttar Pradesh on March 19 when four nuns, including two postulants, under the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala were travelling from New Delhi to Odisha by train.
When the train during the journey pulled into Jhansi, a group of Bajrang Dal activists allegedly “harassed” the nuns alleging they were taking the girl postulants for forced conversion.
The alleged incident grabbed the attention of all in the poll-bound state with the Chief Minister urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre to initiate action while categorically stating such incidents tarnish the country’s image.
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Vijayan had also written a letter in this regard to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking strict action against all groups and individuals who disrupt and impair the freedom of individual rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
The Home Minister had later while campaigning in Kerala assured the people that the culprits would be brought to justice at the earliest.
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