'When traditions are attacked, it is all of us’: Shashi Tharoor flags alleged attacks on Christians ahead of Christmas

Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, the four-time Member of Parliament said there was a growing need to show solidarity with Christian communities amid incidents reported from different parts of the country.

He cited an alleged attack on a carol-singing group in Kerala’s Palakkad district as particularly troubling.

“To my mind, this solidarity is fundamental. Sadly, there are attacks on Christians in different places of the country. Even in Kerala, there was an attack on a carol singing group in Palakkad, which is truly shocking,” Tharoor said.

He stressed that such incidents go beyond any one community. “When our traditions are attacked, it is not only Christians who are attacked, it is all of us. Every Indian is assaulted. Our constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship and freedom of belief is being attacked, and we must all stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers,” he said.

Tharoor also spoke about his long-standing tradition of visiting churches on Christmas Eve. He said that while a delayed flight from Delhi limited his visits this year, the experience remained deeply meaningful.

“This year my flight was late, so I managed only four churches. But it is always special — listening to part of the sermon and ending up at midnight mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral,” he said. Recounting a personal moment, Tharoor said Cardinal Cleemis of the Syro-Malankara Church invited him on stage at St Mary’s Church and offered him a piece of Christmas cake.

Emphasising Kerala’s political culture, Tharoor said respect for all religious and cultural traditions is central to public life in the state. “I have been an MP for 17 years. Showing solidarity with members of my constituency and respect for the traditions of all communities is basic and essential to Kerala politics,” he said.

Concerns over Christmas-related incidents have also emerged from other states. In Rajasthan’s Nagaur district, the principal of a private school alleged that individuals claiming to be members of the Bajrang Dal threatened students and staff over Christmas celebrations.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, members of the group staged a protest outside St Alphonsus Cathedral, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and alleging that a Christmas programme had portrayed Hindu society in an objectionable manner.

Without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tharoor urged leaders of the ruling party at the Centre to publicly condemn such incidents. In a post on X, he drew an analogy from the Mahabharata, recalling how Vikarna, brother of Duryodhana, spoke out against injustice during the disrobing of Draupadi.

“Waiting for someone within the responsible leadership of a party in power to say even as much as ‘Stop,’” Tharoor wrote.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi, joining a large congregation of Christians from Delhi and north India.

The service included prayers, carols and hymns, with a special prayer offered for the Prime Minister by the Bishop of Delhi, Rt Rev Dr Paul Swarup.

“Attended the Christmas morning service at The Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi. The service reflected the timeless message of love, peace and compassion. May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

The developments come amid a broader national debate over religious freedom and communal harmony, as political leaders and civil society groups call for restraint and dialogue during the festive season.