Anti-Christian Violence in India During Christmas Observances: A Fact-based Overview

As India's Christian community marked the birth of Jesus Christ with prayers and carols, the festive season has been overshadowed by a disturbing surge in targeted attacks, vandalism, and intimidation against churches, worshippers, and celebrations—predominantly in states governed by the BJP and linked to RSS-affiliated Hindutva groups like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Echoing widespread outrage, opposition leaders have decried the violence as a systematic assault on religious minorities. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor documented the occurrences as "an assault on all of us," warning that Christmas 2025 is being celebrated amid "fear and anxiety" for Christians. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) condemned the "alarming rise" in attacks, stating they undermine constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. Key occurrences reported in the lead-up to and during Christmas include: