Who Shamed Hinduism? The Christmas Attacks and India’s International Embarrassment
The Christmas season of 2025 witnessed a disturbing wave of coordinated attacks on Christian celebrations across India, tarnishing the country’s global image and raising serious questions about the Modi government’s tolerance for religious violence. From Jabalpur to Assam to Chhattisgarh, Bajrang Dal and VHP activists targeted Christmas decorations, church celebrations, and even school premises—actions that have drawn international condemnation and placed India among the world’s top countries for Christian persecution.
The Attacks: A Nationwide Campaign
Multiple incidents emerged across the country:
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Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: BJP’s Jabalpur Vice President Anju Bhargava stormed a blind school’s Christmas lunch, confronts students, and created a physical scuffle to “prevent religious conversion.”
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Nalbari, Assam:VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St. Mary’s School, destroyed Christmas decorations while chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” then set the decorations on fire.
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Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Similar attacks occurred at Magneto Mall, targeting Christmas displays during a statewide bandh called against “illegal conversions.”
These were not isolated incidents but suggested coordinated action, with the video from Assam going viral and prompting police arrests—though the perpetrators have already sought bail.
The International Fallout
The consequences extend far beyond India’s borders:
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Global rankings: India now ranks 11th on Open Doors’ World Watch List for Christian persecution—just below Iran and Afghanistan, and slightly better than Myanmar. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has suggested targeted sanctions against India.
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Pakistan’s irony: Islamic Republic of Pakistan, itself no stranger to minority persecution, began showcasing peaceful Christmas celebrations on social media—a stark contrast to India’s scenes of violence. This represents a significant diplomatic embarrassment.
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Diplomatic impact: As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman questions why foreign investment is declining, these images provide a clear answer. International businesses and tourists witness a country where religious minorities face intimidation.
The “Converters” and “Defenders” Paradox
The attackers claim to oppose “religious conversion,” yet offer no evidence of systematic conversions occurring. Meanwhile, they ignore the much-documented reverse trend: educated Indians converting their citizenship and migrating to Christian-majority countries, taking both talent and capital abroad.
The real conversions happening in India are:
- Aravalli forestlands being converted to mining zones
- Public institutions being converted to ideological vehicles
- Social harmony being converted into hatred
The Government’s Complicit Silence
Prime Minister Modi’s response has been telling:
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No condemnation: Despite being quick to tweet on international events and forest fires, Modi remained silent on the attacks. He visited a church on Christmas Day—a photo-op that rings hollow without substantive action.
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Selective enforcement: While AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj faces FIR for a Santa-themed air quality skit, Bajrang Dal attackers face minimal consequences. The message is clear: law enforcement operates selectively.
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Political calculation: With 2026 elections approaching and economic indicators weakening, the government appears to be doubling down on religious polarization as a diversion tactic. The “us versus them” narrative intensifies when there’s little positive to showcase.
The Mythology of “Hindu Rescue”
The narrative that Hindu activists are protecting their religion from existential Christian threat appears increasingly manufactured:
- Christians constitute just 3% of India’s population
- Christmas celebrations in India predate independence
- There’s no evidence of mass conversions occurring
- The attacks target peaceful cultural celebrations, not religious conversion efforts
Instead, these groups appear more interested in creating fear and demonstrating power than protecting Hinduism—which, as the video notes, Lord Rama never advocated breaking into schools or intimidating children.
International Hypocrisy and Domestic Reality
The Modi government’s standard response to such criticism—blaming “Soros conspiracies” and “Western jealousy”—fails to address documented evidence:
- Hate speech against minorities increased 74% in 2024
- UAPA and FCRA are being misused to suppress civil society
- Journalists and human rights defenders face arrest for reporting
The government accuses others of fundamentalism while practicing it domestically, seeking both international respect and domestic majoritarian applause—an unsustainable contradiction.
Breaking Ranks
Even some previously aligned voices are questioning the trajectory:
- Goa-based journalist Savio Rodrigues, a known Modi supporter, has begun publicly demanding action against attacks on Christians
- Questions arise about why India’s diplomatic corps cannot effectively counter the damage being done by these groups
- The contrast with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, or UAE—where diverse religious celebrations occur peacefully—becomes starker
What Comes Next?
The government faces a choice:
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Continue the pattern: Allow further attacks, enabling these groups to operate with impunity in exchange for electoral dividends. This path risks:
- Further international isolation
- Potential sanctions from Western nations
- Harm to India’s diaspora abroad facing retaliatory attacks
- Damage to tourism and investment
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Course correction: Declare these organizations as terror groups, ensure law enforcement acts impartially, and allow peaceful religious expression. The precedent exists—public pressure forced the government to backtrack on Aravalli mining approvals.
The international community is watching. India’s traditional non-aligned stance and soft power are eroding rapidly. As the video concludes, Vajpayee’s advice to “follow Raj Dharma”—ruling without discrimination—remains relevant. Whether Modi heeds this advice will determine not just India’s global standing, but the safety of millions of its citizens.
The shame being inflicted on Hinduism by these vigilantes needs to be called out by every true Hindu. These groups are not defenders of the faith; they are its most visible accessories to the crime.