‘Not just a Christian issue, an assault on all of us’: Shashi Tharoor on reports of Christmas vandalism

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said Christmas 2025 was being marked by “fear and anxiety” for Christians in parts of India, citing reports of attacks and attempts to disrupt celebrations in the days leading up to the festival. He said such incidents were an assault on India’s shared culture, not just on one community.

In a two-part post on X, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that while Kerala largely retained its festive spirit, the broader national atmosphere was worrying. “It’s dismaying that Christmas 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented level of anxiety, driven by specific local incidents and a rising national trend of intolerance,” he wrote.

Tharoor referred to an alleged assault on a Christmas carol group in Pudussery in Kerala’s Palakkad district, claiming that the group was attacked and musical instruments were damaged. He described the incident as an attack on a secular and inclusive tradition, saying it had “shocked the state.”

He added that concerns were compounded by reports from other states, including the vandalism of a Santa Claus effigy in a Raipur mall, the alleged assault of a blind Christian girl in Jabalpur, and an attempt to disrupt prayers at a church in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress leader said senior church leaders had also voiced concern during Christmas services. He cited remarks by Archbishop Netyo, who said Christians in India were celebrating Christmas amid “fear and anxiety,” and warned that violence seen in Manipur and parts of north India was “no longer distant.”

Tharoor also referred to comments by Cardinal Cleemis, who questioned what he described as the “mysterious silence” of authorities and asked why the constitutional right to practice one’s faith was being challenged.

Urging the government to respond, Tharoor said the protection of citizens was “a duty, not a favour.” He argued that attacks on carol groups or places of worship were not solely Christian issues but threats to India’s pluralism and shared heritage.

“When a carol group is attacked, it is an assault on all of us,” he wrote, warning that peace could not survive if the majority remained “silent spectators to the bullying of a minority.”

Emphasising Kerala’s history of inter-faith harmony, Tharoor said Christianity had been part of the state’s social fabric for nearly two millennia. He called for swift and impartial action by authorities, saying accountability was essential to restoring trust.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi. In a post on X, Modi said the service reflected “the timeless message of love, peace and compassion” and expressed hope that the spirit of Christmas would inspire harmony and goodwill in society.