Some 400 Indian Christian leaders call for action to address Christmas violence
A public appeal is made to President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi after at least 14 incidents of intolerance by Hindu radicals against Christmas celebrations were reported in various parts of the country. Christian leaders call for rapid and impartial investigations into a general climate that threatens religious freedom.
Delhi (AsiaNews) – Shocked by a surge of attacks at Christmas time, more than 400 Indian Christian leaders and 30 Church groups issued an urgent appeal on 31 December to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for immediate action to address the issue of violence against Christians.
The initiative comes after at least 14 incidents of violence, threats and disruptions were reported involving Christian gatherings across the country during the Christmas season, leaders and Church groups noted in a press release.
The main signatories include Evangelical Bishops Thomas Abraham and David Onesimu, Methodist Bishop Joab Lohara, Richard Howell, Mary Scaria, Jesuit Fr Cedric Prakash and Fr Lousi Prakash, John Dayal, Zelhou Keyho, E. H. Kharkongor, Allen Brooks, K. Losii Mao, Akhilesh Edgar, Michael Willams, A. C. Michael, and Vijayesh Lal.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Rohtak, a district in the state of Haryana, on Christmas Day, when Hindutva groups disrupted Christian gatherings, while in Ambala, they interrupted a celebration with the cry of "Jai Shri Ram”, going so far as to “beat women and children”, alleging “forced conversions”.
In East Khasi Hills, a district in Meghalaya, a north-eastern Indian state, a radical Hindu influencer entered a church in Mawlynnong village on Boxing Day, shouting “Jai Shri Ram” from the altar. He later posted a video of what he did on social media.
Three members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) broke up Christmas celebrations at a public school in Palakkad, Kerala, and verbally threatened the teachers.
On 26 December, in Balasore district, Odisha (Orissa), members of the New Life Church were attacked while celebrating Christmas with the family of the Pentecostal pastor – a mob of local extremists attacked the gathering and verbally and physically abused participants, while shouting accusations of forced conversion.
In their appeal, Christian leaders express deep concern about the alarming rise in intolerance and hostile acts.
According to available data for 2024, 720 incidents of violence against Christians were reported to the Evangelical Fellowship of India and 760 cases to the United Christian Forum.
The appeal raises concerns about the widespread abuse of anti-conversion laws, growing threats to religious freedom, escalating hate speech and exclusionary policies that deny Christian Dalits the status of a disadvantaged minority.
Christian leaders also urge the prime minister to take a visible role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Manipur, where violence has left more than 250 people dead, 360 churches destroyed and thousands displaced since May 2023.
The president and prime minister are urged to take concrete steps to address the situation, ordering prompt and impartial investigations into incidents targeting religious minorities, issuing clear guidelines for state governments to uphold the constitutional right to religious freedom, and initiating regular dialogue with representatives of all religious communities so as to protect the fundamental right to freely profess and practise one’s faith.
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