Uproar as Hindu group allegedly recited Hanuman Chalisa outside Bareilly church before Christmas

There was an uproar on social media after a video of some individuals belonging reportedly to Hindu right-wing groups standing outside a prominent church in the Cantonment area of Bareilly reciting Hanuman Chalisa amid police presence before Christmas emerged on Wednesday (December 24, 2025) evening. The group consisting of roughly 20-25 people also raised slogans of Jai Shree Ram as well. Policemen could be seen recording the video of the incident. 

“Hindutva groups chanting Hanuman chalisa outside a church in Bareilly district Uttar Pradesh. Imagine the level of insecurity these people carry, just because some Christians celebrating Christmas in an church, they are feeling insecure,” wrote Veena Jain, a user on X. 

Another user Dibyendu Das wrote, “Is this what our Hindu faith teaches us, chanting Hanuman Chalisa outside a church?True devotion to Lord Ram means compassion, not provocation,”. 

The Congress alleged that the right wing groups are intentionally trying to undermine religious freedom of minority communities with authorities tacitly helping such anti-social elements. “Such a video highlights a disturbing trend as right wing groups are intentionally trying to undermine religious freedoms of minority communities and creating fear with authorities remaining silently and tacitly helping such anti-social elements. It raises broader question on the functioning of the state, its institutions on their discriminatory role concerning religious freedom,” said Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary, Congress.