Anguished bishops condemn rise in attacks against Christians during Christmas season
In a statement, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India slammed the “alarming” escalation of attacks and violence on the eve of the holiday. In one incident, a visually-impaired woman was insulted and harassed. In Kerala, a 24-year-old man linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was arrested for attacking children singing Christmas carols.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) issued a statement expressing deep anguish and firm condemnation to what they describe as an “alarming rise” in the number of “attacks against Christians in various states of our country during the Christmas season.”
“These targeted incidents,” reads the bishops’ statement, “especially against peaceful carol singers and congregations gathered in churches to pray, gravely undermine India’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and the right to live and worship without fear.”
The CBCI said it was "shocked" by a video from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, that went viral.
In it, “a visually challenged woman attending a Christmas programme was publicly abused and physically harassed by BJP City Vice President Anju Bhargava, and by reports of antinational groups disrupting Christmas gatherings.”
“In light of such egregious and dehumanizing conduct, the CBCI demands the immediate dismissal of Anju Bhargava from the Bharatiya Janata Party” (BJP).
Equally disturbing is the spread of hate-filled posters in Chhattisgarh calling for a bandh (a general strike) on 24 December against Christians, which may exacerbate tensions and fuel further violence.
The bishops condemn "these acts of hatred" and appeal to state and union governments to adopt “urgent, visible action against all individuals and organisations spreading hatred and violence.”
The CBCI, concludes the statement signed by Father Robinson Rodrigues, calls on the Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah Jr., “to ensure strict enforcement of law and proactive protection for Christian communities so that the joyful festival of Christmas may be celebrated peacefully, in an atmosphere of security and harmony.”
Meanwhile, in Kerala police have arrested a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a nationalist organisation linked to the BJP, on charges of attacking a group of children singing Christmas carols in Palakkad District.
The suspect reportedly frightened the children after attacking a couple of them and damaging the drum the group was using.
The man taken into custody was identified as Ashwin Raj, 24, from Kalandithara, Puthussery.
The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, 21 December, when a group of ten students arrived in the area playing Christmas carols and the sounds of musical instruments.
According to the complaint, RSS-BJP activists who had gathered in the area stopped the students, threatened them, and demanded that choir groups not enter the town.
During the confrontation, Ashwin Raj allegedly attacked some of them and damaged their musical instruments. Terrified, the children immediately informed their families and, together, went to the police station to file a complaint.
Following an investigation, the police arrested the accused, who is now held on charges under Section 308 of India’s new Criminal Code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).
On Sunday, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty reported several incidents in which school administrators cancelled Christmas celebrations under pressure, allegedly from far-right Hindu groups loyal to the RSS.
The senior official reacted vehemently after Deshabhimani, the Malayalam-language newspaper of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), claimed that some schools run by the Sangh Parivar and another one "Hindu management" had decided not to host Christmas events.
According to the Times of India, at least one school collected contributions before reversing the decision.
Some parents have filed a joint petition with the minister against a school in Thiruvananthapuram that cancelled celebrations after planning them.
Meanwhile, far-right Hindu groups have targeted Christians on social media. Amid intimidation and threats, the recurring warning is to cancel Christmas celebrations to avoid "unspecified consequences."
Sivankutty accused the RSS and its affiliates of trying to eliminate the religious practices and celebrations of Christian and Muslim minorities from Kerala's cultural life to cause “communal schisms in society.”
According to the minister, Hindu radicals want to replicate the “North Indian” model of "othering minorities" in Kerala, stressing that any attempt at division or hatred will be forcefully rejected.
The Times of India also reported that the leaders of the "pro-Hindu" school cited in the article did not ban Christmas celebrations. However, “a restriction is imposed on cutting cake in view of concerns of any possible food poisoning. Christmas celebrations will be held as such," an official is quoted as saying.
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