Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a Christmas gathering organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi, emphasized the importance of harmony and non-violence in society. However, incidents of vandalism and intimidation surrounding Christmas celebrations in Kerala’s Palakkad and Alappuzha districts painted a contrasting picture.
In Palakkad, two incidents involving members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) disrupted Christmas festivities. In another incident in Alappuzha, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker allegedly intimidated individuals spreading Christmas messages. These acts have drawn condemnation from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who described them as isolated events that must not be condoned.
On December 23, unidentified individuals vandalized a Christmas crib at the Government Boys School in Thathamangalam, Palakkad. The Chittoor police registered a case following a complaint by the school authorities, but no arrests have been made. A VHP leader alleged that Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) members were responsible for the act.
Three days earlier, on December 20, three VHP members disrupted Christmas celebrations at the Government Upper Primary School in Nallepilly, Palakkad. Reports suggest that they barged into the school, questioned teachers about the absence of celebrations for Hindu festivals like Sree Krishna Jayanti, and objected to the use of Santa Claus costumes by teachers.
The Chittoor police arrested three individuals—Anilkumar, Susasanan, and K. Velayudan—on December 21 in connection with the disruption. BJP Palakkad district president KM Haridas distanced the party from the accused, stating, “None of them are connected to the BJP.”
Meanwhile, Raveendran, the secretary of the VHP’s Palakkad Vibhag, acknowledged their affiliation with the VHP but claimed the incident was misreported. “The CPI(M), Congress, and SDPI have twisted the narrative. Our workers only questioned why students were made to stand in the scorching sun for the celebrations and whether similar efforts would be made for Sree Krishna Jayanthi or Nabi Dinam. The circulating news is misleading and inaccurate,” Raveendran explained.
In Alappuzha, a separate incident occurred on December 23 involving an RSS worker, Ratheesh Kumar, who objected to a group delivering Christmas messages in Karthikapalli. While no formal complaint was filed, a video of the confrontation surfaced online.
These incidents stood in stark contrast to the Christmas message of harmony conveyed by the Prime Minister during the CBCI event. Reacting to these events, Yuhanon Meletius, Metropolitan Bishop of the Thrissur diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, expressed his dismay on Facebook. “While bishops are being honoured and the Christmas crib is revered in one place, here the crib is vandalized. There is a saying in Malayalam for such an approach,” he remarked.
BJP state president K Surendran strongly condemned the acts in Palakkad during a media interaction following his meeting with Thamarassery Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil in Kozhikode. “I strongly condemn this. Such actions should not be encouraged in any way. Strong action must be taken against those responsible,” he stated.
- Muraleedharan, BJP leader and former Union minister, echoed similar sentiments, describing the events as isolated. “I am certain the BJP does not support such activities. Our position is clear and is reflected in the Prime Minister’s participation in the CBCI celebrations,” he asserted.
While the Prime Minister’s visit to the CBCI highlighted a gesture of goodwill towards the Christian community, the incidents in Kerala revealed ongoing tensions and raised questions about the sincerity of efforts to foster harmony.