Aizawl: Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga and other leaders, including state Congress president Lal Thanzara, on Sunday strongly condemned a series of attacks targeting members of the minority Christian community and alleged attempts to disrupt Christmas celebrations in different parts of the country, including Assam’s Nalbari district.
Sapdanga expressed deep concern and anguish over the incident at St. Mary’s School in Assam’s Nalbari district, where activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly forced their way into the school, vandalised Christmas decorations, and disturbed the celebrations on Christmas Eve.
“Such acts go against the spirit of secularism and have no place in our democratic framework. They must be condemned in the strongest terms,” the home minister said in a statement.
Stating that Christmas is a time that reminds humanity of peace, goodwill, and compassion, Sapdanga said any attempt to disturb communal harmony or create fear among worshippers is deeply distressing and unacceptable.
He appreciated the Assam authorities for their timely response and firm action in nabbing the culprits involved in the incident. “The rule of law must prevail, and those responsible should face appropriate legal consequences,” he said.
Sapdanga also appealed to people of all religious communities to uphold mutual respect, unity, and understanding. “Let us continue to work together to ensure that peace, harmony, and the spirit of brotherhood remain the guiding principles of our region,” he said.
The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) also strongly condemned the alleged attacks on Christians, vandalism of Christmas decorations, and disruption of Christmas carols in different parts of the country during Christmas.
Condemning reports of attacks on the Christian community across the country, state Congress president Lal Thanzara, in a statement, severely blamed the BJP, saying, “Secularism is being systematically dismantled under its (BJP’s) rule.”
The MPCC also called upon all political parties in the state to cut ties with and withdraw support from the BJP as a mark of protest against alleged atrocities on Christians.
Lal Thanzara said that Christmas celebrations were being attacked and disrupted allegedly by organisations affiliated with the BJP, such as the RSS, Bajrang Dal, and VHP, which he described as a matter of deep shame for the country at a time when Christmas is celebrated enthusiastically around the world.
He said recent atrocities against the Christian minority, allegedly perpetrated by Hindu vigilante groups, have exposed the BJP’s failure to protect minorities in the country.
“Such incidents are not isolated. In BJP-ruled states, these organisations have been emboldened to act with impunity. In Assam’s Nalbari district, preparations for Christmas celebrations at St. Mary’s School were destroyed, exposing the BJP’s failure to protect minorities and uphold the Constitution,” Lal Thanzara said.
The Congress president alleged that the Christian community faced as many as 834 incidents of persecution in 2024 and that children participating in Christmas celebrations were also assaulted.
“This alarming rise in persecution of Christians clearly reflects a pattern of targeted intimidation and religious suppression in the country,” he said.
“We stand in solidarity with all persecuted Christians and demand immediate accountability against those responsible. We urge missionaries and believers to continue their faith and service courageously, without fear or intimidation,” Lal Thanzara added.
Attacks targeting Christians and Christmas celebrations were reported in several parts of the country during Christmas.
Several incidents of violence, intimidation, and vandalism were reported, raising serious concerns among the Christian community.