In a scathing opinion piece, columnist Tavleen Singh has expressed deep concern over a series of violent incidents targeting Christmas celebrations across India last week, framing them as a severe threat to the nation's foundational pluralism.
A Week of Targeted Festive Violence
Singh describes how, in the days leading to Christmas, groups of individuals, whom she refers to as 'Hindutva's fearless foot soldiers', engaged in coordinated acts of disruption and vandalism. Armed with sticks and stones, these groups targeted symbols of the festival. They are reported to have smashed Santa Claus statues, tore down festive decorations outside malls and public spaces, and even forcibly removed Santa caps from people's heads in public, warning them to celebrate only at home.
The aggression, according to the column, escalated to churches. Singh cites a specific incident where a BJP legislator entered a church in Jabalpur and confronted a blind woman, accusing her of conversions. Videos of these acts were widely circulated on social media platforms. The columnist notes that based on unverified estimates, nearly a hundred such attempts to disrupt Christmas festivities occurred, predominantly in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Official Silence and a Prime Ministerial Contrast
A critical point raised is the apparent lack of official condemnation. Singh points out that no one was punished for these acts, and no BJP chief minister openly deplored the violence. This silence stands in stark contrast to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's own Christmas Day message. On December 25, 2025, the PM attended a service at The Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi and posted on 'X' about the 'timeless message of love, peace and compassion'.
Singh poses a series of pointed questions: Was the Prime Minister unaware of the violence perpetrated by Sangh Parivar affiliates across the country? Was he not informed about the growing fear within India's Christian community or the international media coverage of these events?
The Larger Threat: Erosion of Pluralism
The core argument of the piece moves beyond the immediate violence to a broader societal decay. Singh references Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's recent warning about the danger of total collapse facing parliamentary democracy. While she believes democracy can be revived, she argues that pluralism will be far harder to restore once damaged.
She connects the current climate to the ideological parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Singh recalls PM Modi's praise for the RSS's '100 years of national service' during his 2025 Independence Day speech. However, she questions why this 'service' has spawned groups like the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, which, in her view, operate primarily on motivations of hatred.
The columnist laments the missed opportunity for an Indian renaissance under Modi's leadership—one that would have revived pride in India's civilizational contributions through genuine educational reform. Instead, she observes, the focus has shifted to attacking religious minorities, mirroring, in her opinion, the majoritarian policies of neighbors like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In conclusion, Tavleen Singh, who once identified as a 'Modi Bhakt', expresses disappointment. She argues that while the previous 'Dynasty' rule failed to shed colonial governance models, it did preserve pluralism and parliamentary democracy. Today, she fears, pluralism is being systematically destroyed by forces that fail to see the inherent diversity and freedom of worship enshrined in both the Indian Constitution and its ancient civilization.
