New Delhi, December 27, 2025 – Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance at a Christmas service in a Delhi church, calling it a hollow gesture occurring against the backdrop of intensifying violence against Christian minorities across India.
Speaking to reporters in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram questioned the timing and sincerity of Modi's visit to the Cathedral Church of the Redemption, which marked the Prime Minister's first such appearance in 11 years. "While incidents targeting Christians continue, the Prime Minister enters a church after 11 years. People will see through such gestures," he remarked, underscoring what he described as a disconnect between symbolic actions and the ground reality for religious minorities.
Modi joined the Christmas morning service on December 25 at the historic church in central Delhi, where he participated in prayers led by Rt. Rev. Dr. Manoj Jacob, the Bishop of Delhi. The event, attended by a large congregation, featured messages of hope and renewal, with the Prime Minister emphasizing the festival's role in fostering unity and warmth in society. This was Modi's first public church visit since 2014, drawing both praise for promoting interfaith harmony and scrutiny from opposition figures.
Chidambaram's remarks come amid reports of a surge in attacks on Christians in the lead-up to and during the Christmas season. According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, there has been an "alarming rise" in incidents, including vandalism of church decorations, harassment of carol singers, and disruptions of prayer meetings in multiple states. Advocacy groups have documented over 700 cases of violence against Christians in India so far in 2025, with a notable spike in BJP-ruled states during the festive period. In one widely reported incident, Hindutva activists allegedly stormed churches in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, ripping down Christmas displays and intimidating worshippers, prompting international condemnation.
The Congress leader's critique aligns with broader opposition narratives portraying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government as tolerant of majoritarian vigilantism. While the BJP has not issued an official response to Chidambaram's comments as of press time, party spokespersons have previously defended Modi's interfaith engagements as genuine efforts to bridge communal divides.
Beyond the church visit controversy, Chidambaram used the occasion to flag other policy concerns. He warned that proposed amendments to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) – including shifting 40% of the financial burden to cash-strapped state governments – could spark a major electoral backlash. "This will restrict work areas and reduce employment days for crores of rural households," he cautioned, urging the Centre to reconsider the changes.
On the political front in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram revealed that seat-sharing talks between the Congress and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's DMK-led alliance are set to begin soon, following ongoing discussions. "Negotiations will commence shortly," he added, signaling continued collaboration ahead of future polls.
As India grapples with these tensions, Chidambaram's pointed remarks highlight deepening polarization over minority rights, with the Christmas season serving as a flashpoint for both celebration and contention. The opposition's call for accountability contrasts with the government's emphasis on inclusive festivities, leaving the narrative of secularism in the country under intense scrutiny.
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