Symbolism Without Protection: On Violence Against Religious Minorities

2025 Christmas is over, but not the ghost that turned festivity into fear for many Christians in India. In a gesture of reassurance for the Christians amid a rise in violence against religious minorities in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi. Conveying festive greetings to the people on the occasion, he said the “service reflected the timeless message of love, peace and compassion”. In doing so, the prime minister was not merely celebrating a festival; he was embodying the principle of religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution of India. It was a celebration of secularism and recognition of religious diversity. And this was not the first time Modi has joined the Christian community in their religious festivals. He has done it on several occasions in the past and may do it again. Such a gesture that strengthens the secular fabric of the country is welcome and should be continued. However, the unsettling contrast between the gesture of top central leadership and the growing religious intolerance over the years is puzzling. For instance, fringe elements attacked Christians in various parts of the country during the festive season, disrupting Christmas celebrations by assaulting carol singers, threatening those following their faith and vandalising decorations, while Modi joined the Christians in celebration. The irony is stark. The festival that symbolises love, peace and goodwill is suddenly labelled as a threat.

While mounting attacks simply for practising one’s faith is a matter of grave concern, inaction and lack of political will to stop such activities is quite another. Inaction and silence are complicity. No wonder incidents of targeted violence against Christians have increased in the country over the years. The United Christian Forum (UCF) has reported that as many as 834 incidents of violence against Christians were recorded in 2024, an exponential increase from 151 in 2014. The pattern of attacks that take various forms, including desecration of religious places of worship, vandalism of churches and harassment, is disturbing. Then there is anti-conversion law active in many states, which many opined could be misused for arbitrary arrests and create fear psychosis through false accusations. New Delhi can’t afford to turn a blind eye to activities that threaten the country’s secular and democratic principles. Any action that weakens the principles enshrined in the constitution is an attack on India's constitutional values. The government should protect it by taking decisive action against perpetrators. Symbolic gestures lack meaning without accompanying action.