Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore famously said in 1908, “I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live.” In stark contrast, India has seen an increase in jingoism in recent years.
Just days after a Bajrang Dal member banned Christmas mass in the state capital, the youth wing of India’s Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) allegedly vandalized Christmas decorations worth millions of dollars at Raipur’s Magneto Mall in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh.
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The VHP issued a statement calling on Hindus to refrain from celebrating Christmas in any form, saying the move was aimed at promoting a cultural “awakening” among Hindus. Reports also suggest that shops and other businesses are being encouraged to face Christmas celebrations.
Videos circulating on social media show Bajrang Dal members attacking a Santa Claus statue and reindeer ornaments outside malls with sticks.
About 32 million Indian Christians, who make up about 2.3% of the population, have faced a wave of violence, intimidation and harassment that has overshadowed the festive season. Meanwhile, 2011 census data shows that the Christian population grew by 15.5 percent between 2001 and 2011, which is less than the national average growth rate of 17.7 percent.
Yet Christians continue to be portrayed as a threat to the Hindu community.
CBCI expresses “deep distress” over attacks targeting Christians
Earlier on Tuesday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body representing the country’s Catholic community, issued a strong statement expressing “deep distress” over the “alarming increase” in attacks against Christians during the holy season.
The bishops pointed out that many of these incidents, often carried out by vigilante groups that claim forced conversions, seriously threaten constitutional rights to freedom of religion and worship without fear.
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He further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of various states to ensure strict enforcement of law and provide proactive protection to Christian communities across the country.
In a video message released by the CBCI, the archbishop expressed his “deep pain” over the “alarming increase in attacks on Christians”, noting that such incidents impinge on the spirit of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
He emphasized that the true message of Christmas – reflected in carols and prayers – is peace, joy, hope and harmony.
Recent attacks on Christians
In Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, men allegedly associated with the Bajrang Dal were seen harassing women and children wearing Santa Claus hats on the street, accusing them of trying to convert people.
Video of the incident shows the woman visibly shaken by the confrontation:
Earlier, a viral video from Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur showed city BJP vice-president Anju Bhargava allegedly physically assaulting and verbally assaulting a visually impaired woman during a Christmas charity event.
In the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, a local dispute on 17-18 escalated into widespread violence in December, with mobs reportedly burning at least two churches (some reports say three), damaging several Christian homes, and clashing with police.
Riots erupted in villages including Dumali, Kurrutola and surrounding areas under Ambeda police station following the burial of 70-year-old Chamraran Salam at a private family plot. Salam, father of local sarpanch Rajman Salam, died on December 15. Villagers protested, arguing that the Christian-style burial violated tribal customs, even though the land was privately owned.
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In the past 10 years, reported cases of violence against Christians in India have jumped from 139 to 834, with the total number of documented incidents affecting nearly 5,000 families over the past decade, according to a report by International Christian Concern, a US-based non-profit charity.
