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MP, Odisha, Delhi, Rajasthan: Right-wing outfits barge into 2 churches ahead of Christmas, attack vendors selling X’mas goodies, tensions run high

‘This is Hindu Rashtra’ say mobsters in Odisha as vendors selling Santa hats are attacked; In MP churches observing Christmas celebrations are stormed by far right politicians belong to the ruling BJP, Delhi sees intimidation by the Bajrang Dal on women sporting Santa hats and similar attacks are seen in Rajasthan. All such incidents have invited widespread condemnation on social media. Delhi, the national capital also sees the free run of right wing bullies attacking those in Christmas attire; meanwhile, widespread protests have erupted over the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to deny Christmas Holidays to students. Clearly it is the BJP run states that have seen this lawlessness ahead of a much loved Indian festival.

Intense attacks by far right outfits inside churches in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and mobsters claiming “Hindu Rashtra” does not allow vendors to sell Santa hats in Odisha have dotted the BJP-ruled landscape in several states. Widespread reports in NewsX World, Deshabhimini, Indian Express and India Today also show a video of the incident has gone viral on social media, which shows the group of men harassing the street vendors for being Hindu and yet selling Santa hats. Attacks on those wearing Christmas attire took place in Delhi and Rajasthan as well. Widespread protests have erupted over Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to deny Christmas Holidays to students. Authorities have reportedly made attendance compulsory stating that former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday must be celebrated that day! Clearly it is the BJP run states that have seen this lawlessness ahead of a much loved Indian festival.

Relentless attacks carried out by right-wing outfits inside churches in Madhya Pradesh, resulting in violence, have surfaced this week ahead of Christmas. On Monday, December 22, a controversy over alleged religious conversion of visually impaired students escalated into a political flashpoint in Jabalpur after a video surfaced showing a local BJP functionary in a physical altercation with a visually impaired woman inside church premises.

The incident occurred at a church located behind Hawabagh Women’s College, where members of several right-wing organisations, accompanied by BJP district vice-president Anju Bhargava, entered the premises alleging that visually impaired children were being coerced into religious conversion. The allegations triggered a confrontation inside the church, culminating in scenes later captured on mobile phones and widely circulated on social media.

Viral footage available on social media shows Bhargava confronting a visually impaired woman seated inside the church. At one point, Bhargava is seen violently holding the woman’s face and engaging in a heated exchange. At this point, the woman responds by grabbing and twisting Bhargava’s arm, repeatedly asking her not to touch her and to speak without physical contact. Other people present intervene as tempers flare, following which police arrive at the spot and defuse the situation.

Meanwhile, in Odisha, lumpens on the loose are evident in a social media that shows a group of men bullied and arm twisted street vendors in Odisha, objecting to their sale of Santa hats on the occasion of Christmas. A video of this assault has gone viral on social media. It shows the men getting out of a white car, with one of them – dressed in an all-yellow ensemble – asking the vendors where they are from, what their religion is, before shouting at them for selling the hats.

The Video may be viewed here

 

In Delhi too, Bajrang Dal goons were seen abusing women who sported Santa hats

According to police officials, related to the attacks in Madhya Pradesh –specifically the one at Hawabagh National College—the gathering involved visually impaired students who had been invited for a meal as part of Christmas-related charitable outreach by members of the Christian community. The students told officials that they had been brought from a government-run hostel for lunch and prayers, and denied any attempt at religious conversion. “At this stage, there is no evidence of forced conversion. Statements of the students are being recorded,” a senior police officer said, adding that the children were safely sent back after the commotion.

This has not deterred right-wing organisations from “lodging a complaint”, questioning how students from a government hostel were taken to a religious site without prior intimation to authorities. They have also alleged that prayers conducted at the venue were exclusively Christian in nature and claimed that non-vegetarian food was served.

This is the second such incident in Jabalpur this week. On Sunday morning, December 21, a prayer service at a church in Madhotal descended into mayhem after members of a right-wing organisation entered the premises, leading to violent confrontations and multiple detentions. The confrontation occurred around 11 am at a church near Shiv Shakti Nagar, where a prayer meeting was underway. What began as questioning about the size and composition of the congregation quickly escalated into physical violence, with chairs thrown and slogans shouted inside the place of worship.

Members of the Hindu Seva Parishad allege they approached the church after receiving information about an unusually large gathering that included attendees from outside districts. They claim they were questioning potential religious conversion activities when violence erupted.

Worshippers present at the service tell a markedly different story. They assert that 15 to 20 young men forcibly entered the church during prayers, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and creating panic among the congregation.  According to media reports Jitendra Barman, who was present during the incident, stated: “Worship of the Lord happens in the church, not conversion. For years, people have been coming here of their own will and praying. Today when the prayer meeting was going on, young men barged in shouting. They assaulted women and children.”

Police said several youths were detained for creating a disturbance, and investigators are working to establish the sequence of events based on testimonies from both sides.

Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai has tweeted this on X:

 

Related:

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