Indian Prime Minister Modi Attends Christmas Service in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi on Thursday, participating in a gathering of Christians as part of his ongoing outreach to minority communities. During the service, he expressed that it reflected the enduring themes of love, peace, and compassion, stating, "May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society." Modi’s appearance at the church is seen as a continuation of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to strengthen ties with the Christian community.

Party president Jagat Prakash Nadda also engaged in Christmas celebrations at the Christian Higher Secondary School, an event organised by the Mao Naga Christian Fellowship Delhi (MNCFD). Nadda highlighted the government's commitment to development in the northeast, a region with a substantial Christian population. The Prime Minister's efforts to engage with Christians include previous addresses at various events, such as a Christmas celebration organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India in 2024 and an Easter event at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2023.

He also hosted a Christmas gathering at his residence in 2023. Despite these outreach initiatives, opposition parties have raised concerns about incidents of vandalism and harassment towards Christians in certain regions of India. The Indian National Congress shared a video on social media platform X, allegedly depicting members of right-wing groups vandalising Christmas decorations in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, a state governed by the BJP. They claimed this incident reveals the underlying issues faced by the Christian community under the current government. The BJP's attempts to connect with Christians have seen mixed results, as there remains a segment of the community that harbours skepticism.

This apprehension is partly due to the Sangh Parivar’s known opposition to religious conversion, which has resulted in stringent laws being enacted in several states since the BJP's rise to prominence in 2014. Kerala has the largest Christian population in India, accounting for over 18% of its population as per the 2011 census. Tamil Nadu follows with a Christian demographic of approximately 6%. Both states are poised for assembly elections in the coming months. In Goa, Christians make up over 25% of the population and hold considerable political influence, particularly in the northeast regions of Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, where they form the majority. As the Christmas season unfolds, the Prime Minister's participation in these celebrations underscores his administration's strategy to foster goodwill with minority communities, even as challenges and criticisms persist.