Opposition leader V D Satheesan has launched a sharp critique against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a significant rise in attacks against the Christian community across India. He specifically accused BJP workers and affiliated organizations of both perpetrating and justifying such incidents, including during the recent Christmas season.
Kerala Incidents and National Pattern
Satheesan pointed to events in Kerala, a state known for its communal harmony, to illustrate his claims. He stated that BJP workers attacked a Christmas carol group in Palakkad, with party leaders later defending the action. In a separate incident in Thiruvananthapuram, a demand by a Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) leader to include an RSS song in a Christmas celebration at the postmaster general's office led to the event's cancellation.
"Sangh Parivar is attempting to infiltrate Kerala as well," Satheesan warned. He made a pointed remark, saying, "It must be recognized that those who come to Kerala to celebrate Christmas and Easter with cake and wine are the ones attacking Christians nationwide."
Institutional Failure and Alarming Statistics
The Congress leader expressed deep concern over the failure of institutions meant to safeguard minority rights. He declared that the minority commission has been inactive for the past five years, and the minority education commission is also non-functional.
"In a secular country, institutions responsible for protecting all communities are failing to ensure the right to worship and to celebrate festivals such as Christmas," Satheesan asserted. He presented stark figures to underscore the scale of the problem, claiming that 830 attacks against Christians were reported in 2024, with 706 incidents recorded up to October this year.
Widespread Disruptions and Legal Weaponization
Satheesan listed several states where Christmas observances were allegedly disrupted, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat. He provided specific examples of violence: a visually impaired woman attacked during a service in Jabalpur, denied Christian funeral rites leading to violence and church arson in Chhattisgarh, and a bandh declared on Christmas Eve preventing worship.
He further accused the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of withdrawing the Christmas holiday and arresting pastors for distributing Bibles. Satheesan noted that while the Allahabad High Court has clarified that Bible distribution is not a crime, cases are being filed against worship services under anti-conversion laws.
Concluding his remarks, Satheesan emphasized that this situation demands strong protest and resistance. He called for support for Christian communities being denied festive freedom and urged Sangh Parivar organizations to immediately cease attacks on religious minorities and "lay down their arms."
