Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien launched a sharp critique on Thursday, directly questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Christmas message of love and peace. This came after the PM attended a Christmas prayer service at Delhi's Cathedral Church of the Redemption.
Political Dig Over Christmas Greetings
In a post on social media platform X, Derek O'Brien quoted the Prime Minister's own festive message. PM Modi had stated that the service he attended "reflected the timeless message of love, peace, and compassion," adding he hoped the spirit of Christmas would inspire harmony. O'Brien responded with a pointed query: "Love? Peace? Compassion? Harmony? Goodwill? Christmas?" This rhetorical challenge underscored the TMC leader's accusation of hypocrisy, suggesting the government's actions did not match its festive words.
Church Leaders Issue Solemn Appeal
O'Brien's criticism was anchored in a serious appeal from senior church officials. Earlier, he had shared a Christmas Eve video message from Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). In the message, the Archbishop made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and all Chief Ministers.
He urged them to ensure strict law enforcement and provide proactive protection to Christian communities nationwide. "Peaceful carol singers and faithful gathered in churches... have been targeted, causing fear and distress," Archbishop Thazhath stated. He condemned acts of hatred and violence, emphasizing that such incidents wound the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
O'Brien praised the church leadership's strong stance, calling it a "scathing message" that was "never too late."
Incidents Fueling the Controversy
The TMC leader cited specific incidents to back his allegations. He slammed the BJP based on a video from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, which showed BJP's Jabalpur vice-president Anju Bhargava engaged in a physical altercation and shouting at a woman with visual impairment inside a church, with police present. "PM Modi and HM Shah, your silence on incidents like these in the Christmas season is deafening. Shame on you and your ilk," O'Brien wrote while sharing the video.
Furthermore, the Trinamool Congress strongly condemned another disturbing event in Puri, Odisha. On December 21, vendors selling Santa Claus hats and pictures, including an elderly couple, were allegedly harassed, humiliated, and told to leave by a group in an SUV near the Shree Jagannath Temple. A video reportedly shows four people, one dressed in yellow, threatening the vendors near Jail Road.
This series of events has ignited a fresh political debate, placing the spotlight on the safety of minority communities during the festive season and the government's response to alleged hate crimes.
