Kohima: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has formally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising concerns over what it described as a surge in persecution against Christians in India, particularly around the Christmas season. In its letter, the church body urged the Prime Minister to take notice and intervene to ensure the protection of the Christian community across the country.

The NBCC highlighted that the reported incidents of violence, harassment, and intimidation against Christians are not isolated occurrences but part of a growing pattern that poses serious risks to the community. “The rising tide of Christian persecution in India is making it increasingly precarious to be a Christian. The pace and intensity of attacks suggest that simply being a Christian is turning into an existential threat,” the council asserted.

Citing data from the United Christians Forum, the NBCC noted that between January and October 2025 alone, more than 600 incidents of violence against Christians were documented—an average of nearly two attacks per day. These incidents ranged from mob assaults and public humiliation to the disruption of church services and the demolition of Christian homes.

The church council expressed deep concern over the targeting of Christians during religious celebrations, calling it “a bitter irony that in a country that prides itself on being the world’s largest democracy, citizens are facing attacks for simply celebrating Christmas.” The letter emphasized that the freedom to practise one’s faith appears increasingly threatened amid repeated attacks, disrupting both public worship and private life.

The NBCC also criticized Christian Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), including those affiliated with the BJP, for failing to speak out against incidents of violence and hate speech. The letter referenced high-profile cases from across India, including incidents in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), Lajpat Nagar (Delhi), a shopping mall attack in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), the St. Mary’s School attack in Nalbari (Assam), and events in Kerala and Rajasthan, where the lack of political intervention was noted as disappointing.

“It is unthinkable, as a Christian and citizen of India today, to be on the receiving end of religious persecution. It is quite baffling to understand why so much hatred is vented against a community like Christians,” the NBCC stated, emphasizing the positive contributions of Christians to India’s social, cultural, economic, and political life.

The church council also underscored the Christian community’s commitment to patriotism and national development. “Christian understanding of nationalism is loyalty and patriotism to the nation, and in this, Christians have not lacked anything compared to the rest of the cultural Hindu nationalists,” the letter read, urging the government to ensure the community’s safety and religious freedom.

The NBCC’s communication to the Prime Minister comes at a time of heightened concern over religious intolerance and underscores the demand for proactive measures to prevent attacks on minority communities. The letter called for both immediate intervention in cases of violence and longer-term strategies to protect religious freedom and uphold India’s constitutional guarantee of equality and safety for all citizens.