In Focus by The Hindu Why do reports of attacks on Christians spike around Christmas in India?
Dec 26, 2025
Around Christmas, reports of attacks on Christians surge across India, raising concerns about safety during festive celebrations. The discussion highlights patterns of ideological violence, with historical links to both Hindu and Christian festivals. Professor Apoorvanand explores how anti-conversion laws and social media amplify prejudices that enable aggression. The podcast also examines the troubling role of state authorities and local groups in these incidents, alongside the stark contrast between international outcry and domestic silence.
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Attacks Even Target Vulnerable Groups
- This year attacks included assaults on blind women at a Christmas feast, illustrating extreme targeting.
- Apoorvanand recounts such violent incidents across multiple states to show breadth of assaults.
Violence As An Ideological Project
- Attacks on Christians are part of an ideological project aiming for a Hindutva state rather than isolated incidents.
- Apoorvanand says marginalization of Christians and Muslims is central to this design, not spontaneous triggers.
Historical Precedents Of Prolonged Violence
- Historical episodes like the 1998 Dang and 2007-08 Kandhamal violence show patterns of prolonged assaults.
- Apoorvanand cites these past attacks to demonstrate that festival-linked violence has precedent and scale.