Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi, an event that highlighted the government’s outreach to the Christian community even as Opposition parties raised sharp questions over alleged attacks on minorities across the country during the festive season. The juxtaposition of the Prime Minister’s presence at a church service and the Opposition’s criticism underscored a broader political and social debate over religious harmony, minority safety, and the role of the state in addressing hate incidents.

During the service, Prime Minister Modi extended Christmas greetings to citizens and reflected on the values associated with the festival. In a message shared publicly, he said the service conveyed a “timeless message of love, peace and compassion” and expressed hope that the spirit of Christmas would inspire harmony and goodwill across society. His remarks were framed as a call for unity and mutual respect, themes that have frequently featured in his addresses at interfaith events.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda also participated in Christmas-related programmes in the national capital. He attended celebrations at a Christian Higher Secondary School in New Delhi, organised by the Mao Naga Christian Fellowship Delhi. In a post on social media platform X, Nadda described the gathering as warm and joyful and said that Christmas was a time to remember the teachings of Jesus Christ. BJP leaders and officials pointed to these events as evidence of the party leadership’s engagement with minority communities and its emphasis on cultural inclusivity.

Government officials highlighted that Prime Minister Modi has, in recent years, made it a point to attend or host programmes connected with the Christian community. They recalled that during Easter 2023, he attended an event at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi. Later that year, he hosted a Christmas programme at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. In 2024, he attended a dinner at the residence of Union minister George Kurian and also participated in a programme organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). According to officials, these gestures demonstrate continuity in outreach and a message of respect for religious diversity.

However, even as the Prime Minister and senior BJP leaders marked Christmas publicly, Opposition parties accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to address what they described as a growing pattern of violence, harassment, and intimidation against Christians and other minorities. Several Opposition leaders argued that symbolic participation in religious celebrations cannot substitute for concrete action to prevent attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien was among the most vocal critics. Referring to an incident in Jabalpur, where a visually impaired woman was allegedly assaulted by a BJP leader over suspicion that she was promoting religious conversion ahead of Christmas, O’Brien questioned the government’s silence. Addressing Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said their lack of response to such incidents during the Christmas season was “deafening.” In a pointed remark, he contrasted the Prime Minister’s Christmas message with the reality on the ground, questioning whether words like love, peace, compassion, harmony, and goodwill rang hollow in the face of reported violence.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin also criticised what he described as attacks by right-wing groups acting in the name of the majority community. In a post on X, Stalin said that when such groups indulge in violence and riots while the Prime Minister simultaneously participates in Christmas celebrations, it sends a disturbing message to the nation. He cited reports claiming a significant rise in hate speech against minorities since the BJP came to power at the Centre, warning that such trends pose a serious danger to social cohesion and constitutional values.

Adding to the criticism, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas said there had been no let-up in attacks on Christians across the country. While acknowledging the Prime Minister’s attendance at a Christmas church service in the capital, Brittas argued that a firm and unequivocal statement condemning violence against Christians could have made a meaningful difference. He said that even a brief acknowledgment from the Prime Minister that attacks on churches, schools, and Christian gatherings are attacks on the Constitution and the nation would have sent a strong signal that such acts would not be tolerated. Brittas further claimed that attacks against Christians have spiked over the last decade, alleging that around 700 incidents had been reported up to November this year and that the figure could cross 1,000 by the end of the year.

The concerns raised by political leaders found an echo in statements from Christian religious authorities. Andrews Thazhath, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, condemned the reported attacks and appealed directly to the Prime Minister, the Union home minister, and chief ministers of various states to ensure strict enforcement of the law and to provide proactive protection to Christian communities. In a video message released on the occasion, Thazhath said such incidents deeply wound the spirit of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and the right of every citizen to worship without fear.

“With a heavy heart, but yet with hope, I unequivocally condemn these acts of hatred and violence,” he said, emphasising that constitutional promises of religious freedom must be upheld in both letter and spirit. His appeal underscored the anxiety within sections of the Christian community and the expectation that the state should play an active role in preventing targeted violence.

The broader debate reflects a recurring tension in Indian politics between symbolism and policy. Supporters of the government argue that the Prime Minister’s participation in Christmas and other minority festivals demonstrates respect for pluralism and a commitment to inclusive governance. Critics, however, contend that such gestures must be accompanied by visible and decisive action against hate crimes, inflammatory rhetoric, and vigilantism to be credible.

As India continues to grapple with questions of religious coexistence, the events surrounding Christmas this year have once again brought these issues to the forefront. The Prime Minister’s message of love and harmony resonated with many, but the Opposition’s criticism and the concerns voiced by church leaders highlight a demand for stronger assurances of safety and equality for minorities. How the government responds to these concerns, beyond symbolic participation in religious events, is likely to shape the ongoing discourse on secularism, constitutional values, and social harmony in the country.