Aizawl: Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga and senior Congress leaders on Sunday took potshots at a series of alleged attacks on members of the Christian community and attempts to disrupt Christmas celebrations in different parts of the country.
Sapdanga expressed concern over an incident at St. Mary’s School in Assam’s Nalbari district, where activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly forced their way into the school premises, vandalised Christmas decorations and disrupted celebrations on Christmas Eve.
“Such acts go against the spirit of secularism and have no place in our democratic framework. They must be condemned in the strongest terms,” Sapdanga said in a statement.
He added that Christmas symbolises peace, goodwill and compassion, and any attempt to disturb communal harmony or instil fear among worshippers was “deeply distressing and unacceptable.”
The Mizoram home minister appreciated the Assam authorities for their prompt response and for arresting those allegedly involved in the Nalbari incident.
“The rule of law must prevail, and those responsible should face appropriate legal consequences,” he said, while appealing to people of all faiths to uphold mutual respect, unity and understanding.
Meanwhile, the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) also condemned the alleged attacks on Christians, including vandalism of festival decorations and disruption of Christmas carol programmes in various parts of the country.
State Congress president Lal Thanzara, in a separate statement, blamed the BJP for the incidents, alleging that secularism was being “systematically dismantled” under its rule. He claimed that Christmas celebrations were being targeted by organisations allegedly affiliated with the BJP, including the RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP.
Thanzara said such incidents reflected the BJP’s failure to protect religious minorities, citing the Nalbari episode as an example. “These are not isolated incidents. In BJP-ruled states, such groups have been emboldened to act with impunity, undermining constitutional values,” he alleged.
The Congress leader further claimed that the Christian community faced as many as 834 incidents of persecution in 2024, including cases where children participating in Christmas celebrations were allegedly assaulted.
Calling the trend alarming, he said it reflected a pattern of targeted intimidation and religious suppression.
ALSO READ: Christmas celebrations draw tourist rush to Mizoram, boosted by rail connectivity, festive events
The MPCC also urged all political parties in Mizoram to sever ties with the BJP as a mark of protest, while asserting solidarity with persecuted Christians and demanding accountability against those responsible for the alleged incidents.
