New Delhi [India], December 26 (ANI): Incidents of vandalism and alleged focused assaults throughout Christmas celebrations throughout a number of states have triggered sharp political reactions, with opposition events criticising the BJP, whereas the ruling get together has maintained that regulation and order are being firmly upheld.
Reports of disruptions emerged from a number of states, together with Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Odisha, the place Christian communities reported vandalism, intimidation and harassment throughout Christmas celebrations. While authorities stated the state of affairs stays beneath management, opposition leaders described the incidents as a part of a disturbing nationwide sample.
Incidents of violence and disruption marred Christmas celebrations throughout India. In Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, a BJP official allegedly assaulted a visually impaired Christian girl throughout a youngsters’s feast, whereas mobs disrupted church companies. In Palakkad, Kerala, an RSS employee attacked carol-singing youngsters and destroyed their devices. Right-wing stress led a number of faculties to cancel festivities.
Chhattisgarh noticed vandalism and arson assaults on Christian properties in Raipur and Kanker. Similar incidents occurred in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, the place teams protested exterior a cathedral. In Delhi and Odisha, avenue distributors promoting Christmas objects confronted harassment, with vigilantes claiming the objects have been ‘non-Hindu’.
The most distinguished incident was reported from Assam’s Nalbari district, the place miscreants vandalised Christmas decorations at St Mary’s English School forward of celebrations. Assam Police arrested 4 members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad: Bhaskar Dey, Jyoti Padgiri, Biju Dutta, and Nayan Talukdar who broken the outer decorations, avenue lights, plant pots, and different articles, in addition to setting some issues on hearth.
Nalbari Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das stated the incident occurred on December 24 and {that a} case was registered after the varsity authorities knowledgeable the police. ‘The accused have been arrested and might be produced earlier than the courtroom. Further investigation is underway, and motion might be taken towards others primarily based on video proof,’ he stated.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated the federal government was firmly dedicated to sustaining peace and communal concord. ‘In reference to the vandalism at St Mary’s English School, Panigaon, beneath Belsor Police Station, Nalbari district, the miscreants concerned have been arrested. Assam Police acted promptly, and additional motion might be taken strictly in accordance with the regulation. We are absolutely dedicated to sustaining peace, communal concord, and making certain the protection of all establishments and residents throughout the state,’ Sarma wrote on X.
However, the incident triggered sturdy political reactions. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi alleged that such acts have been a part of what he termed the ‘politics of hatred,’ accusing the ruling get together of fostering communal stress. He additionally linked the incident to alleged corruption within the Jal Jeevan Mission, claiming makes an attempt have been being made to divert consideration by means of communal disturbances.
‘This is a direct assault on the constitutional framework. It is one more manifestation of the ruling get together’s steady makes an attempt to divide society. I strongly condemn the desecration of festive objects and non secular symbols in a faculty in Nalbari. The sitting MLA is the Minister chargeable for the huge corruption within the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. He is one other shut aide of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. After the current state-wide Congress-led protests towards the JJM rip-off, the BJP Minister wants the VHP and Bajrang Dal to regain his place inside his get together. Fraternity is enshrined within the preamble of the Indian Constitution. Next 12 months, after Congress involves energy in Assam, we’ll enact a strict regulation that may strictly punish any particular person or group of individuals chargeable for desecrating the locations of worship or rituals of a spiritual group, be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jain or Sikh, ‘Gogoi stated on X.
The challenge resonated throughout the nation, with a number of opposition leaders condemning the incidents.
Trinamool Congress chief Kunal Ghosh accused right-wing outfits of concentrating on non secular minorities. Ghosh advised reporters, ‘BJP’s associates, similar to Bajrang Dal and others, are concentrating on different religions, which isn’t what our tradition teaches. What the Constitution says, the BJP does precisely the other. What they’ve performed is flawed, and we condemn it.’
CPI(M) chief Brinda Karat additionally condemned the incidents, saying assaults on Christmas celebrations mirrored an assault on constitutional values. ‘This communal gang, which launched a large assault on Christians in numerous elements of the nation on the pretext of the Christmas pageant, and in addition attacked something related to this pageant, similar to Santa Claus hats or Christmas decorations, has acted towards the tradition, values, and structure of our nation. The solely purpose these individuals have dared to do that is that the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the RSS chief are all brazenly advocating for a Hindutva nation, and within the identify of a Hindutva nation, they’ve given free rein to organisations just like the Bajrang Dal and VHP,’ she stated.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated Christmas 2025 had been marked by ‘worry and anxiousness’ in a number of elements of the nation. Referring to incidents in Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, he stated assaults on carol teams and non secular symbols have been an assault on India’s pluralistic material.
Tharoor on X wrote, ‘Violence and intimidation haven’t any place in a civilised society, and definitely not within the vibrant tapestry of India… When one neighborhood is threatened, all others should stand as a protect. Coexistence requires justice. Authorities should act swiftly and impartially towards hooliganism. Impunity for mobs emboldens division; accountability restores belief…’
BJP leaders, nonetheless, rejected allegations of inaction. Assam BJP chief Manab Deka stated the federal government wouldn’t tolerate any wrongdoing. ‘The police have arrested everybody concerned. This shouldn’t have occurred,’ he stated.
Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Numal Momin additionally condemned the vandalism, saying, ‘I oppose any motion that goes towards faith. This is unlucky.’
Religious leaders additionally expressed anguish. Father Anand David Xalxo of St Mary Cathedral in Ranchi stated the incidents have been deeply painful for the Christian neighborhood.
‘It actually pinches us as a result of Christians are peace-loving communities. If such issues occur, some incident takes place, it actually provides us a form of ache. We observe what Jesus taught us. He stated that you just forgive the individuals who communicate towards you, who persecute you, you forgive them, and also you pray for them. Being a Christian, being a priest, it’s my accountability to hope for such individuals and will God give them the knowledge and data in order that they’ll change their mind-set…,’ he added. (ANI)