In a video that went viral, a speaker at a VHP rally had incited hatred against Christians, with delusional claims about ghostly initiation rites for nuns. Faced with the inaction of the local government, Sister Manjula Tuscano – a nun and lawyer – filed a petition with the Gujarat High Court.
Gandhinagar () – An Indian nun – Sister Manjula Tuscano, from Vadodara – has filed a petition with the High Court of Gujarat to register a complaint and open a criminal case against a Hindu nationalist from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who a few weeks ago he made insulting comments in public, referring to the nuns of a convent and the figure of the Pope, during an event organized in the city of Kadi.
In a viral video of the event, a speaker is clearly seen urging listeners to attack the Christian community and banish it from Gujarat. In the local language and with a delusional thesis, the speaker affirms that the Pope is the “husband” of thousands of nuns from all over the world and that they, during an initiation ceremony, must accept him. In his logic, therefore, the religious life of the Catholic community would be based on adultery.
Sister Manjula Tuscano, a religious of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary, is a lawyer and, through the Kanuni Salah Kendra association, offers legal advice to those seeking justice. The petition filed with the Gujarat High Court states that the expletives of the speaker in question specifically refer to the nuns of the convent in the town of Irana, urging those present to hatred. “The video in question”, reads the text, “circulates on social networks and is in the public domain; in the speech, derogatory and vile comments are heard, specifically directed at women, mocking the chastity of nuns and making insinuations against the Pope”. The complaint states that there is a premeditated intention to disturb the religious harmony of Gujarat and maintains that the lack of intervention by the authorities would only reflect “the failure of the State when it comes to curbing anti-social elements”. .
in dialogue with Sister Tuscano, who has lived in Gujarat for 19 years, said “At the moment, the matter is being considered by the High Court and it could be discussed next week, so I don’t want to comment.”
On March 17, the Archbishop of Gandhinagar, Thomas Ignatius Macwan, had already written a letter on the matter, addressed to Gujarat state chief minister Bhupendra Patel, a BJP member, calling for “immediate and severe” action against the speaker. However, the local government did not provide any response.
