Christmas celebrations across India were marred this year by a wave of intimidation and violence, with more than 80 reported incidents targeting Christian gatherings, schools, and public displays. Many of the attacks have been linked to Hindu nationalist groups associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, including the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. From vandalized nativity scenes in Assam to mobs disrupting church services in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Christmas week unfolded under a cloud of fear, as vigilantes accused Christians of “illegal conversions” and labeled India a “Hindu rashtra” that excludes religious minorities.

While mobs harassed carolers, attacked churches, and even assaulted a visually impaired woman, authorities in many regions appeared slow or unwilling to intervene. Critics noted the contrast between the violence and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public attendance at Christmas events, accusing his government of symbolic gestures without decisive action to protect constitutional freedoms. Journalists, opposition lawmakers, and Christian leaders warned that the normalization of religious hatred is eroding India’s pluralistic foundations. For prophecy watchers, the targeting of believers during a holy season underscores a growing global pattern: hostility toward Christianity advancing under the cover of nationalism, ideological purity, and state indifference.

SOURCE: ICC