Catholic Bishops’ chief appeals to PM Modi, Amit Shah to ensure protection of Christians

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) president Archbishop Andrews Thazhath connected Christmas eve appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and main ministers of assorted states to guarantee strict enforcement of instrumentality and widen proactive extortion to Christian communities crossed the country.

In a video entreaty to the Prime Minister released by the CBCI, the Archbishop expressed “deep pain” implicit the “disturbing emergence successful attacks connected Christians” and said specified incidents profoundly coiled the tone of India’s Constitution, which guarantees state of religion.

The Archbishop, successful his appeal, said the connection of Christmas, of Christmas carols and prayers is that of peace, joy, anticipation and harmony.

“But today, arsenic I conscionable you, it is with heavy symptom and interest that I talk implicit the disturbing emergence successful attacks connected Christians successful respective parts of our country. During this beatified Christmas season, we are pained to perceive astir it,” the Archbishop said.

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“Peaceful carol singers and faithful gathered successful churches earlier crypts for prayer, etc., person been targeted, causing fearfulness and distress among law-abiding citizens who question lone to observe their religion successful peace,” helium said.

The Archbishop said specified incidents “deeply coiled the tone of our Constitution, which guarantees state of religion, which promises each Indian the state to worship their faith, state of religion, the close to worship without fear, with a dense heart, yet with hope”.

“I unequivocally condemn these acts of hatred and violence. And I respectfully impulse those liable radical to instrumentality disposable enactment against those who question to disagreement our society,” helium said.

“I humbly and earnestly entreaty to you, the enactment of India, Honourable Prime Minister Modiji, Honourable Home Minister Amit Shahji, Honourable State Leadership, Chief Ministers, and truthful on, to guarantee the strict enforcement of instrumentality and to widen proactive extortion to Christian communities crossed the country, truthful that the joyous connection of Christmas, of peace, love, harmony, and goodwill whitethorn beryllium celebrated successful an ambiance of security, harmony, and communal respect,” helium said.

He said India's strength, arsenic guaranteed successful our Constitution, has ever flowed from its unity successful diversity.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) person successful Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien welcomed the connection by the Archbishop.

The TMC person had earlier connected Wednesday (December 24, 2025) slammed Prime Minister Modi and Shah implicit attacks connected Christians being reported up of Christmas.

In a station connected X, Mr. O’Brien shared a video that purportedly shows a section BJP functionary successful a carnal altercation with the pistillate wrong a religion premises successful Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur.

“PM Modi and HM Shah, your soundlessness connected incidents similar these successful the Christmas play is deafening. Shame connected you and your ilk,” helium said.

The video which surfaced connected societal media shows BJP Jabalpur vice president Anju Bhargava shouting astatine a pistillate with ocular impairment successful the beingness of constabulary personnel.

In a station connected X aft the CBCI released the Archbishop's video message, Mr. O’Brien said, “A fewer hours aft this tweet calling retired PM Modi and HM Shah, the religion enactment person (never excessively late) enactment retired a scathing connection connected video calling retired the duo. Well done. Strong words condemning what's happening successful this joyous season.”

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On Tuesday (December 23, 2025), the CBCI had condemned the “alarming” emergence successful alleged attacks connected Christians.

In a statement, the CBCI said it is “particularly shocked” by a video from Jabalpur successful Madhya Pradesh, wherever a pistillate with ocular impairment attending a Christmas programme was publically abused and physically harassed by the BJP metropolis vice president.

The Catholic Bishops’ assemblage urged Mr. Shah to guarantee strict enforcement of the instrumentality and proactive extortion for Christian communities truthful that Christmas whitethorn beryllium celebrated peacefully.