The North East Catholic Research Forum (NECRF) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for immediate action against what it describes as a growing trend of attacks on Christians across India, particularly over the past two years. In a recent memorandum, the NECRF acknowledged the Prime Minister’s engagement with the Christian community, including his participation in significant events such as the Easter program in 2023 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi and Christmas celebrations with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in 2024. They expressed appreciation for his attendance at the Christmas service on December 25, 2025, at the Cathedral Church of Redemption, which was well-received by Christians nationwide as a signal of inclusivity and commitment to societal harmony.
Despite these positive gestures, the forum conveyed “deep anguish” over ongoing and systematic attacks against Christians, stressing that these incidents occur despite existing constitutional protections. The report cites alarming statistics, stating that there were 834 recorded attacks on Christians in 2024, averaging 69 per month. From January to November 2025, 706 incidents were reported, involving various forms of violence such as physical assaults, sexual offenses, murder, threats, intimidation, and desecration of places of worship. It claims that groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were involved in many of these incidents.
The NECRF further alleged that organizations connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), sharing ideologies with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, are employing front groups to restrict Christian religious activities and humanitarian efforts. The memorandum details various incidents leading up to and during Christmas this year to illustrate the current climate.
For example, on December 20, a woman identified as Anju Bhargava, reportedly a vice president of the BJP’s Jabalpur unit, allegedly confronted a church during Christmas preparations and assaulted a visually impaired woman, accusing her of trying to convert others. The victim later clarified that she is Hindu and attended the function voluntarily.
On December 21, Hindu Raksha Dal activists allegedly disrupted a Christmas prayer service in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, vandalized property, desecrated the Holy Bible, made derogatory remarks about Christian figures, and harassed a woman while recording the episode for social media. The NECRF contends that no legal action has been taken against these offenders.
Another incident on December 22 in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar involved young girls in Santa Claus caps reportedly being heckled and accused of proselytizing, accompanied by a government order in Rajasthan that day prohibiting such attire. The forum claims the intent behind this order was to limit Christmas celebrations.
On December 24, the Sarva Hindu Samaj allegedly instigated a 24-hour shutdown in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, damaging Christmas decorations and discouraging public festivities. Furthermore, members of both the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal were accused of vandalizing Christmas displays, including a nativity scene at St Mary’s School in Assam, prompting fear that led to the cancellation of local Christmas services.
The memorandum also references attacks on carol singers in Palakkad, Kerala, and disruptive actions outside St Alphonsus Cathedral in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, as well as various restrictive government circulars in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh targeting school Christmas events.
On Christmas Day, 500 to 600 Bajrang Dal members reportedly held a procession through a predominantly Christian area in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly with prior knowledge of local authorities, intending to disrupt the celebrations.
Highlighting that these incidents are part of a larger trend of organized and systematic campaigns against the Christian community, the forum called for urgent intervention from the Prime Minister. They emphasized that a clear message of disapproval from him could significantly help to deter such violence and urged him to instruct state governments to avoid misusing anti-conversion laws against vulnerable members of the Christian community.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/necrf-flags-nationwide-incidents-targeting-christians-seeks-pm-modis-intervention
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Publish Date: 2025-12-30 22:09:00
