Uttar Pradesh: Hindu protests against Christmas events. Bishop D'Souza: 'A worrying sign'
In the city of Bareilly, members of the Hindu nationalist groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad protested in front of a Catholic church on 24 December, accusing a school of offending Hinduism during Christmas celebrations. The diocese rejected the accusations and explained that this was a serious distortion of the content of the theatrical performances, which were dedicated to social issues and universal values. Bishop Ignatius D'Souza once again denounced the climate of growing religious intolerance.
Bareilly (AsiaNews) - A school Christmas event, organised as every year to promote common social and cultural values, turned into a new episode of religious tension in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
On 24 December, members of the Hindu nationalist groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged a protest in front of St Alphonsus Cathedral in Bareilly, accusing a Catholic school of ‘offending the Hindu religion’ during theatrical performances.
The demonstration took place outside the church while Christmas was being celebrated inside. A video, which went viral on social media, shows Bajrang Dal militants reciting the Hanuman Chalisa (a Hindu devotional hymn) in front of the cathedral entrance, under the gaze of six police officers present at the scene.
The protesters then chanted religious slogans such as ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’, demanding an investigation and the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against the church authorities and the school management.
According to far-right Hindu groups, some scenes staged during the Christmas play portrayed Hinduism in a negative light and indirectly promoted conversion to Christianity.
‘If you project a screen of about 30x20 inches in front of an audience of 2,000 people suggesting that there are problems with Hinduism, the indirect message is that you should convert to Christianity,’ said Ashu Agarwal, a VHP leader.
The plays were part of ‘Christmas Mahotsav,’ a two-day cultural event held on 21 and 22 December at Bishop Conrad Senior Secondary School, a Catholic institution run by the diocese within the church complex.
As has been the case for years, the programme included performances by students, Christmas carols, cultural dances and a science exhibition.
According to Bishop Ignatius D'Souza, a member of the school's management committee, the accusations are the result of a distorted interpretation of the initiative.
‘All the performances were broadcast live on YouTube, but the videos were removed due to copyright issues related to clips from the series “The Chosen”, about the life of Jesus Christ,’ he explained in a statement, denying any offensive or proselytising intent.
The prelate emphasised that Christmas Mahotsav has long been a much-anticipated event for the community. ‘It is an annual event that celebrates the spirit of Christmas along with the social and moral values of India. This year, thousands of people participated enthusiastically, appreciating the programmes presented by the students,’ he said.
The performances, the bishop added, focused on themes such as national integration and human dignity. Among the subjects brought to the stage were personalities such as B.R. Ambedkar, Anandi Gopal Joshi (India's first female doctor), Mother Teresa, as well as messages on women's empowerment, the protection of the elderly, the fight against addiction, respect for the environment and the importance of the family.
‘The overall message was clear: peace, love, harmony, unity and brotherhood, beyond all religious boundaries,’ D'Souza reiterated.
The event on 24 December, which lasted less than half an hour, was ended by the police after representatives of the Bajrang Dal handed a memorandum to police officer Ashutosh Shivam, calling for an ‘impartial’ investigation into the incident. No arrests were made.
According to the bishop, the incident is part of a broader climate of growing intolerance. ‘This is not an isolated case. This year, there have been nearly 60 incidents across the country in which Christmas celebrations have been disrupted or obstructed,’ he said.
‘Extremist groups are trying to take the law into their own hands, jeopardising the constitutional values of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.’
D'Souza also expressed concern about the silence of the political authorities. ‘The lack of clear statements from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government is alarming. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have a duty to intervene, condemn hatred and ensure that the law is enforced against those who seek to divide society.’
‘Why should anyone feel threatened by the Christian minority?’ added the bishop. ‘It is a community that has made a fundamental contribution to education, health and social services in India. Peaceful cultural celebrations should never become the target of fear or hostility.’
‘Silence in the face of intolerance,’ the prelate concluded, ‘only ends up strengthening the forces that want to divide the country. India is strong in its diversity, and initiatives such as Christmas Mahotsav truly embody the idea of unity in diversity.’
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