In his letter, Mr. Venugopal cited a series of incidents across States including Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and even Kerala. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing “profound dismay” over what he described as an “alarming surge in violence and intimidation” against India’s Christian community during the Christmas season. Mr. Venugopal alleged that these attacks represented a “brazen assault” on constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and equality.
In his letter, Mr. Venugopal cited a series of incidents across States including Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and even Kerala. He claimed that mobs affiliated with right-wing outfits disrupted Christmas celebrations, attacked churches, and harassed worshippers.
Among the incidents highlighted were verbal assaults on women and children wearing Santa hats in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, attacks on churches and Christian homes in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker village, and vandalism at Raipur’s Magneto Mall where Christmas decorations were destroyed. In Madhya Pradesh, a prayer meeting in Jabalpur attended by hearing- and visually-impaired children was allegedly stormed by a mob, while in Uttar Pradesh, a Christmas Eve service in Ghaziabad was disrupted. Mr. Venugopal also pointed to an attack on children participating in a carol procession in Kerala’s Palakkad.
“These are not isolated incidents but scars on the core idea of India,” Mr. Venugopal wrote, accusing the government of “silence” that he said emboldens hate-mongers. He urged the Prime Minister to take “immediate and decisive action” to prevent further violence and ensure citizens can practice their faith without fear.
The Congress leader also warned of potential disruptions during upcoming New Year celebrations, calling for “utmost precautions” to safeguard pluralism and public safety.
Published – December 29, 2025 09:58 pm IST
