Reports of attacks on Christian Community on Thursday led Congress MP Sashi Tharoor to express concerns over the unsolicited attacks. He asserted that any attack on a particular community amounts to an assaully on the nation as a whole. Extension Christmas greetings, Tharoor underlined Kerala’s long standing political and social ethos of religious harmony and mutual respect
Reaction on reports
Reacting to the reports of attacks against christians, he said “When people of a community are assaulted, every Indian is assaulted." “Respect for the cultural and religious traditions of all communities is central to Kerala’s politics,"
---Advertisement---
“Sadly, there are attacks on Christians in different parts of the country. Even in Kerala, there was an attack on a carol singing group in Puducherry in Palakkad, which is truly shocking because when our traditions are attacked, it is not only Christians who are attacked, but all of us. Every Indian is assaulted,"
---Advertisement---
“Our constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship, freedom of belief, is being attacked, and we must all stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers,"
Senior Congress leaders and Christian organization have alleged that Christians are being targeted increasingly across the country, leader of opposition in the Kerala assembly, Vd Satheesan, had on Tuesday alleged that the Sang family were routinely on=obstructing Christmas celebrations and gatherings in several states.
In a Facebook post on the eve of christmas, Sathesan claimed that such incidents had become commonplace and pointed to a recent episode of palakkad district where a Chrustmas carol group was reportedly stopped.
He further alleged those who appear friendly during Christmas celebrations, including individuals visiting homes with cakes, could be “wolves in sheep’s clothing" and part of forces involved in attacks against Christians across the country.
The allegations further increased after attacks on Christain groups in some states and an incident involving a Chriustmas Carol group is Pudussery in Palakkad district. Catholic Bishop Peter Kochupurackal strongly condemned the incident and deamded stringent action to prevent a recurrence of such episodes.
Catholic Bishops raise voice
Concerns over the alleged targeting of Christians have also been voiced by church leaders ata the national level
In a video message issued by the CBCI, the Archbishop voiced “deep anguish” over what he termed a troubling increase in attacks on Christians. He said such incidents strike at the very spirit of the Constitution, which upholds freedom of religion and the right to worship without fear.
Citing attacks on carol singers and worshippers gathered for prayer, he said these acts have spread fear and anxiety among law-abiding citizens who only wish to practise and celebrate their faith peacefully.
The CBCI’s appeal also triggered political responses, with Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien welcoming the Archbishop’s remarks and criticising what he described as the Union leadership’s silence over incidents reported during the Christmas season.