India: Christmas Celebrations Disrupted by Hindu Right Wing Supporters

Christians of various denominations in different parts of India faced threats, vandalism, and abuse by various right-wing Hindu organizations on the run-up to Christmas and on Christmas Day, even as the Union Government celebrated 'Good Governance Day' in December 25.

'Hindus shouldn't celebrate Christmas'

Christmas celebrations were disrupted in  Silchar town in the north-eastern state of Assam on Saturday. Youth claiming to be members of the Bajrang Dal, a right-wing group with close ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), forced their way into an open-air celebration in the  Presbyterian church compound.

The attackers claimed they had no issue with Christians celebrating Christmas but declared they would not allow Hindus to do so.

"We are not against Christmas... let only Christians celebrate Christmas. We are against Hindu boys and girls participating in Christmas functions. Today it was Tulsi Diwas of Hindus, but no one celebrated. It hurts our sentiments... everyone is saying Merry Christmas. How will our religion survive?" one of the attackers (who was wearing a saffron cap) said in a video circulated online.

'Tulsi' is known as 'Holy Basil' and this 'special day,' promoted by various hardcore Hindu groups, is of relatively recent origin.

Police took action later on, when posts on social media by some of Assam's well-known personalities, such as veteran journalist Anirban Jyoti Gupta and RSS supporter, disclosed that his son had been mishandled.

'Christianity is not acceptable here'

On Thursday (the day before Christmas Eve), two incidents took place in different parts of India. In Gurgaon (near Delhi), a group of men led by a politician barged into a Gurgaon private school in Narhera village and disrupted a Christmas carnival.

They also raised slogans of "Jai Shri Ram (long live Lord Ram)" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai (hail mother, India)." Videos of the incident show a man addressing the students and staff. "Christianity is not acceptable here. We are not disrespecting Jesus Christ, but we want to tell the future generations to remember him if they want and do it legally but not fall for attempts of religious conversion. It can destroy Indian culture," he can be heard saying.

House Hope Gurugram organized the Christmas carnival and reportedly chanted praise to Jesus Christ after a song performance that miffed some locals who saw it as a provocation to convert students into Christianity.

Narendra Singh Pahari,  a local politician, had gathered his supporters and went to the school to hear about the carnival. He said that he had heard that people were being lured to convert in the guise of the carnival.  He alleged that Hindu religious sentiments were being hurt and attempts to divide Hindus during the program. The slogans praising Lord Ram and Mother India were a response to people being made to sing praises of Jesus Christ.

"It was scary as we had women and children around in the church. The nuisance is increasing with each passing day. It's an infringement of our right to pray and follow our religion," a local pastor told news agency PTI.

The local police have said they received information regarding the incident and the matter was resolved; there has been no written complaint. No case has been registered, Pataudi Station House Officer Amit Kumar said.

Statue broken, books burnt, but hope survives

Also, on  Thursday, a 160-year-old Catholic church in Belgavi district was vandalised. Police have filed an FIR (first information report), but no action has been taken.

Father Joseph Anthony Daniel, told an English language  TV channel that the church in Susaipalya, some 65 km from state capital Bengaluru, is believed to have been damaged around 5.30 in the morning.

Father Joseph filed a complaint with the police. He said this kind of vandalism had never happened before.

"I am very saddened to inform you that  ... some unidentified people have broken the statue of St Anthony. It was erected some 40 years ago... It was found broken with a huge stone. I went to the police station and gave a complaint. They have filed an FIR against unidentified people," Father Jospeh Anthony Daniel said in a video statement.

In recent weeks, there have been disturbances in Christian prayer meetings in different parts of Karnataka. A new bill has been introduced in the ongoing session of the state assembly in Belagavi, called the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill.

There have also been several incidents of the burning of Christian religious books and churches in Karnataka, where the BJP government has pushed through a hugely controversial anti-conversion bill.

There have been nearly 40 such attacks in the southern state over the past 11 months, says a report by the People's Union of Civil Liberties.

However, Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado, speaking to a news website, said that the Christian community will face the challenge. "We take it with hope. We take it with love. We wish the people these joys in spite of our sufferings, in spite of our disappointments."