New Delhi, December 26, 2025 – Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sharply criticized recent attacks and disruptions targeting the Christian community across India, arguing that they starkly contradict Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public emphasis on peace and harmony during his Christmas Day visit to a Delhi church.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Gehlot highlighted the "worrying and condemnable" incidents of violence and interference in prayer gatherings, which occurred even as the Prime Minister attended a morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in the national capital. "Today, while on one hand, the Prime Minister is visiting a church to deliver a message of peace and harmony, on the other hand, reports of attacks on Christians are emerging from various parts of the country," Gehlot wrote, underscoring a perceived hypocrisy in the government's approach to religious tolerance.
The senior Congress leader called for immediate and stringent legal measures against those inciting hatred, dismissing symbolic gestures as insufficient. "Symbolic gestures would not be enough, and strict legal action was required against those spreading hatred," he stated, invoking India's ancient ethos of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" – the world is one family – to emphasize the constitutional right of every citizen to practice their faith freely. Gehlot urged both the central and state governments to enforce the rule of law rigorously, ensuring that no individual or community is compelled to celebrate festivals under duress or fear.
The remarks come amid a surge in reported incidents of persecution against Christians leading up to and during Christmas 2025. Advocacy group Open Doors noted that over 2,900 such events were documented across India from January to November alone, with the holiday period exacerbating vulnerabilities for believers. Specific cases highlighted in recent reports include:
Assam: Members of a fringe outfit vandalized a school and set fire to items from shops in protest against Christmas celebrations, sparking widespread condemnation.
Palakkad, Kerala: A carol-singing group was attacked, prompting Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to decry the violence as an assault not just on Christians but on India's pluralistic fabric. "Not only Christians who are attacked; it's all of us," Tharoor said, calling for a display of unity against such acts.
Dungarpur, Rajasthan: Disruptions were reported at local Christian events, adding to tensions in Gehlot's home state.
Chhattisgarh: At least three churches were torched, and scores of tribal Christians were assaulted following a burial dispute just days before Christmas.
- Other hotspots: Incidents of vandalism, physical assaults, and intimidation were noted in Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Delhi, Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), and Madhya Pradesh, where festive decorations were targeted and gatherings disrupted.
Prime Minister Modi's attendance at the Christmas service, where he extended greetings emphasizing unity and compassion, was intended as a gesture of solidarity with the Christian community. However, Gehlot and other opposition voices, including Tharoor, argued that such optics ring hollow without concrete action to curb rising communal tensions.
Christian advocacy groups and human rights organizations have echoed these concerns, pointing to a pattern of increasing hostility linked to fringe Hindutva elements disrupting celebrations in schools, neighborhoods, and public spaces. The Church of South India and other bodies have called for enhanced security measures during religious observances.
As India grapples with these developments, Gehlot's intervention has reignited debates on religious freedom and governance. The Congress leader concluded his post with a plea for collective responsibility: "The government must ensure that the spirit of harmony is not just preached but practiced."
No official response from the Prime Minister's Office or the Home Ministry was immediately available on the criticisms. With Christmas festivities winding down, activists warn that unchecked incidents could deepen divisions in an already polarized society.
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