Shashi Tharoor slams attacks on Christmas celebrations, says 'freedom of worship is being attacked'

Tharoor urges solidarity for Christians

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has issued a warning about recent incidents targeting Christians ahead of Christmas, saying that attacks on traditions affect all citizens. “When traditions are attacked, it is all of us,” he said, referring to a reported assault on a carol-singing group in Palakkad, Kerala.

“To my mind, this solidarity is fundamental, and we're going through a time, and sadly, there are attacks on Christians in different places of the country. Even in Kerala, there was an attack on a carol singing group in Palakkad, which is truly shocking,” Tharoor, the four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said.

He added, “When our traditions are attacked, it is not only Christians who are attacked, it is all of us. Every Indian is assaulted. Our constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship, freedom of belief is being attacked, and we must all stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers.”

Tharoor, who regularly visits multiple churches every Christmas Eve, said that this year he managed only four due to a delayed flight from Delhi. “I had a wonderful experience in going from church to church, and in particular at St Mary's, where Cardinal Cleemis, the major archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Church, he called me up on stage and gave me a morsel of chocolate cake himself and said some kind things,” he said.

The Congress leader emphasised the importance of respecting cultural traditions in Kerala politics. “For me, this has always been very important. I've been an MP now for 17 years, and showing solidarity with members of my constituency is basic, but also showing respect for the cultural and religious traditions of all communities is central to Kerala politics,” he added.

1/2 While the festive spirit remained alive in Kerala, it’s dismaying that Christmas 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented level of anxiety, driven by specific local incidents and a rising national trend of intolerance.A Christmas carol group in Pudussery, Palakkad was… https://t.co/4uF1EBd6G6

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 25, 2025

Incidents targeting Christians have also been reported in other states. In Rajasthan’s Nagaur, a private school principal alleged that people claiming to be Bajrang Dal members threatened children and staff over Christmas celebrations. In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, members of the Bajrang Dal staged a protest outside St Alphonsus Cathedral Church, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and claiming that a Christmas programme had portrayed Hindu religion and society in an objectionable manner.

Without naming the BJP, Tharoor urged the “responsible leadership of a party” in power at the Centre to condemn the attacks. He cited the Mahabharata on X: “Waiting for someone within the responsible leadership of a party in power to say even as much as 'Stop, O man of cruelty (Manishada).’”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi, joining a large congregation of Christians from Delhi and north India. The service included prayers, hymns, and a special prayer for the Prime Minister by Rt Rev Dr Paul Swarup, Bishop of Delhi. “Attended the Christmas morning service at The Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi. The service reflected the timeless message of love, peace and compassion. May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society,” PM Modi said in a post on X.