January 4, 2026 : The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and Sadbhav Manch strongly condemn the widespread attacks, intimidation, and hooliganism carried out by right-wing groups during the recent Christmas celebrations across India. These incidents are not isolated. They reflect a disturbing and growing pattern of hate-driven violence against religious minorities, particularly Christians and Muslims.
While the Prime Minister publicly participates in symbolic gestures of inclusivity, violence and harassment against minorities continue unabated on the ground. This contradiction exposes the gap between optics and reality. The Indian State has a constitutional responsibility to protect the rights, safety, dignity, and freedom of faith of all citizens. That responsibility is being systematically violated.
Rising Persecution of Christians
The persecution of Christians in India has intensified over the past decade. In December 2025 alone, as communities prepared for Christmas, right-wing extremists targeted carol singing, church services, and even informal celebrations across multiple states. Street vendors selling Santa Claus caps were assaulted, shopkeepers were pressured to boycott Christmas, and ordinary citizens were harassed for expressing their faith.
Much of this violence has been driven by organizations subscribing to an exclusionary Hindutva ideology, falsely claiming to “protect Indian culture.” In several instances, these acts appeared to receive direct or indirect official patronage, resulting in grave violations of Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, and 25–28 of the Indian Constitution.
Documented Incidents of Hate Crimes (December 2025)
Several serious incidents were reported across the country:
Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh: Authorities denied permission for Christmas carol singing, citing baseless fears of conversion. The Indore High Court quashed the order on December 18, 2025.
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: A Christmas lunch for visually challenged students at a church was violently disrupted by a BJP woman leader on false allegations of forced conversion.
Palakkad, Kerala: A children’s carol group was verbally abused, physically assaulted, and had instruments damaged by individuals reportedly linked to the RSS.
Delhi: Christian women and children wearing Santa hats were harassed in Lajpat Nagar market by Bajrang Dal members.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Roadside vendors selling Christmas items were threatened and forced to shut down using “Hindu Rashtra” rhetoric.
Pune, Maharashtra: Members allegedly affiliated with the VHP and Bajrang Dal threatened a petrol pump owner over employees wearing Christmas hats.
Kanker, Chhattisgarh: A burial dispute escalated into mob violence, arson, and injuries, targeting Adivasi Christian homes and prayer halls.
Nalbari, Assam: Christmas Eve celebrations at St. Mary’s English School were disrupted and decorations vandalized.
Uttar Pradesh: Schools were kept open on December 25, cancelling the traditional Christmas holiday while mandating celebrations of a political leader’s birth anniversary—sending a deeply exclusionary message.
Systemic Failure of Constitutional Governance
India’s Constitution is founded on secularism, requiring the State to maintain equal distance from all religions. However, repeated attacks on Christian festivals and the routine branding of prayer gatherings as “forced conversions” reveal a dangerous erosion of constitutional values.
The misuse of anti-conversion laws, arbitrary arrests, denial of permissions, and failure to protect minority rights reflect a systemic breakdown of governance under the current regime. These laws are increasingly used as tools of intimidation rather than justice.
Our Demands
NAPM and Sadbhav Manch, along with several secular and rights-based organizations, urgently call upon the Union Home Minister to issue clear directives to all states and Union Territories to:
Prevent violence, harassment, and intimidation of religious minorities
Ensure prompt and unbiased action against hate speech and hate crimes
Provide security to churches, mosques, prayer halls, and community events
Compensate individuals and communities affected by hate-related losses
Fix accountability of police and district administrations for failures and illegal actions
Stop the abuse of anti-conversion laws and initiate a constitutional review
Conclusion
The continued silence of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and inaction by local administrations only emboldens perpetrators and normalizes mob rule. Hate crimes against minorities are disproportionately higher in BJP-ruled states, making accountability at the highest levels unavoidable.
As people’s movements committed to the constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, we stand in unwavering solidarity with all victims of hate crimes. We will continue to pursue democratic and legal remedies until justice is delivered and the rule of law is restored for all marginalized communities.
Issued by: Sadbhav Manch & National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
