When Arjun, a delivery partner working with Zomato in Indore, went out for work on December 25, 2024, he was prepared for a busier-than-usual day, but not for what he was to experience. Dressed as Santa Claus as part of the food delivery company’s Christmas campaign, he was intercepted by someone who asked him why he was wearing that costume and whether they dressed up likewise for Hindu festivals as well.
In videos of the exchange that later went viral (Archive), the person speaking to the delivery agent can be heard asking in Hindi, “Zomato asked you to do this (Santa Claus) costume?”
A #Zomato delivery man was stopped by workers of the #HinduJagranManch and asked to remove a #SantaClaus attire he was wearing for #Christmas celebrations. The incident occurred in #MadhyaPradesh’s #Indore city.
A video of the Zomato delivery man named Arjun being questioned by… pic.twitter.com/GGQNkkgDZF
— Hate Detector
(@HateDetectors) December 25, 2024
Reports by The Times of India, India Today and Hindustan Times identify the man speaking to Arjun as Sumit Hardia, district convener of Hindu Jagran Manch. Within seconds, Hardia asks the delivery partner to get rid of the costume.
“Why don’t you wear saffron on Diwali or dress up for Hindu festivals? What kind of a message are you sending to families by dressing up as Santa Claus? Take off the costume… this is against our culture,” Hardia says.
Despite repeated explanations by Arjun that the outfit was mandated by Zomato and removing it could impact his work, Hardia remains persistent in having him remove it. Eventually, Arjun complies.
Madhya Pradesh, Indore.
On Christmas, @Zomato dressed its delivery boys as Santa Claus. During deliveries, members of the “Hindu Jagran Manch” forced them to remove the Santa costumes and chanted “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.#MerryChristmas pic.twitter.com/DwzFlDFWbo
— هارون خان (@iamharun_khan) December 25, 2024
While Arjun’s harrowing experience got the media’s attention and also reached millions of users across social media platforms, this was not the only instance of Right-wing groups taking exception to celebrations surrounding Christmas, last month. The spirit of festivity and cheer, which usually accompanies the Christian festival and the end of the year in India, was marred by several such cases of targeted harassment by Hindutva outfits. Only a few of them were covered by the mainstream media.
Alt News documents some of these instances below.
Odisha: Christian Women Tied to a Tree, Assaulted
In Nilgiris in Odisha’s Balasore, two Christian women were allegedly beaten up, humiliated, and tied to a tree by members of a Hindutva group named Deva Sena, one day after Christmas. A video surfaced on social media where the two women could be seen bound to the tree for allegedly promoting religious conversion of a tribal Hindu man. (Archive)
Two Christian tribal women in Odisha were tied and beaten for celebrating Christmas.
This horrific incident occurred in the area of same Pratap Sarangi, who falsely accused LoP @RahulGandhi Ji of pushing him.
These attackers are followers of his ideology. pic.twitter.com/ZnHQ3n2MCA
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) December 29, 2024
The two women, Subhasini Singh and Sukanti Singh, were brutally assaulted and humiliated and had cake, which they brought to celebrate the festivities, smeared on of their faces. (Archive)
Attacks on Minorities at it’s peak in #Odisha! see how A Right Wing goon is beating #christian woman with shoes n kicking her repeatedly .He is a close ally of BJP, MP.After FIR n plenty of proofs he is roaming free @Ashok_Kashmir @irfhabib @ravishndtv @Apoorvanand__ @RanaAyyub pic.twitter.com/TMAXiXX6Hi
— Amiya_Pandav ଅମିୟ ପାଣ୍ଡଵ Write n Fight (@AmiyaPandav) December 31, 2024
They were even forced to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’. (Archive)
It’s not Manipur It’s #Odisha
Poor tribal Christian women were tied in a tree, beaten badly, face disfigured and were forced to chant JSR,JJN by Hindutva Goons in Odisha.
Minorities r under threat under BJP rule @Ashok_Kashmir @irfhabib @ShayarImran @zoo_bear @alishan_jafri pic.twitter.com/K33ZnVevi9— Amiya_Pandav ଅମିୟ ପାଣ୍ଡଵ Write n Fight (@AmiyaPandav) December 29, 2024
According to an Indian Express report, police arrested four people in the case — Pitambar Biswal, Prasanta Kumar Nayak, Jayanta Kumar Nayak and Badal Kumar Panda. Two cases were registered in connection with the incident, one against the two women and another against the group of people. Panda, in his complaint, claimed that the women were “forcibly converting” a man to Christianity “by threatening him” in Chhankhanpur village and that village residents had “restrained” the accused. However, in the counter complaint, the man who was allegedly being forcibly converted claimed the two women were known to him and that the crowd had “outraged their modesty by dragging them and tying them to a pillar”.
While investigating this, we found the Facebook page of Badal Kumar Panda, who had live streamed the entire incident. A local media outlet called Panda the Nilgiri block president of Dev Sena organization. Additionally, we came across a poster on his Facebook page that urged people to not celebrate Christmas on December 25 but instead celebrate Tulsi Puja. The poster, in Odia, reads: “This is not the land of Santa, it is the land of saints”.
It is noteworthy that Panda identifies as a worker of Bharatiya Janata Party in his Facebook bio.
Uttar Pradesh: Dalit Youth Humiliated and Assaulted in Fatehpur
In Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, a Dalit youth was allegedly forcibly taken from his home. He was assaulted, abused, tonsured, and paraded after being accused of converting to Christianity by Bajrang Dal members. In a video, members of Bajrang Dal alleged that the Dalit youth converted to Christianity and later on December 27, 2024, urged Bajrang Dal members to convert him back to Hinduism. They added that the Dalit youth had consented to all the procedures undertaken by Bajrang Dal in his reconversion to Hinduism. (Archive)
#फतेहपुर के खागा कोतवाली क्षेत्र के ऐलई गांव में विश्व हिंदू परिषद और बजरंग दल के कार्यकर्ताओं ने एक दलित युवक की घर वापसी कराई। ईसाई धर्म अपनाने वाले युवक का सिर मुंडवाकर पूरे गांव में जय श्री राम के नारों के साथ पैदल घुमाया गया। गांव के हनुमान मंदिर में हनुमान चालीसा का पाठ और… pic.twitter.com/irJdzUGsTb
— UttarPradesh.ORG News (@WeUttarPradesh) December 27, 2024
In another video, the Dalit youth himself narrates that he was forcefully driven from his house, after a Bajrang Dal member Rohit Dixit and a few others suspected he converted to Christianity and showered him with kicks and slaps. He was even beaten up with shoes. His head was shaved and he was taken to a temple where he was forced to bow down and recite the Hanuman Chalisa. (Archive)
#फतेहपुर के खागा कोतवाली क्षेत्र के ऐलई गांव में दलित युवक के साथ अमानवीय व्यवहार का मामला गरमा गया है। आरोप है कि युवक का सिर मुंडवाकर, जूतों से पीटते हुए, गांव में जबरन घुमाया गया। उसे मंदिर में ले जाकर हनुमान चालीसा पढ़वाई गई और पूरे गांव में भ्रमण कराया गया।
दलित समाज ने इस… https://t.co/X54cihaULa pic.twitter.com/w4QBlZBLcL— UttarPradesh.ORG News (@WeUttarPradesh) December 28, 2024
The incident was widely covered by Hindi media outlets, including Dainik Bhaskar, Navbharat Times and Hindustan.
Punjab: Congress Leader Sonu Singh Rajput Intimidates Christian pastor, Accuses him of Religious Conversions
In Ludhiana, local Congress leader Sonu Singh Rajput harassed a Christian pastor on camera, alleging that he was visiting a house for religious conversion. The pastor explains that he was invited to the home for a Christmas service, upon which the Congress leader asserts that such ceremonies need to be performed at a church and not in his ‘area.’ He also threatens the pastor, explicitly forbidding him from coming back for such services.
Sonu Singh Rajput shared the video himself on his Facebook profile. He wrote: “I request all of you that if such activities are taking place in your street or neighbourhood, you must oppose it because if there is any religion which is the biggest, then that religion is Sanatan Dharma.”
कुछ शरारती अंसरों द्वारा
सीधे साधे लोगों को बहला फुसला कर कुछ लालच देकर
उनके घर में जाकर प्राथना के नाम पर उनका धर्म परिवर्तन किया जा रहा
और ये काम काफ़ी तेजी किया जा रहा ऐसे काफी लोगों को हमने पकड़ कर उनका पर्दाफाश किया
आप सभी से बिनती है ऐसे काम अगर आपके गली या मोहल्ले में हो तो इसका विरोध आप जरूर करे
क्योंकि सबसे बड़ा अगर कोई धर्म हैं तो वो धर्म सनातन धर्म हैंPosted by Sonu Singh Rajput on Friday 20 December 2024
Mumbai: Hindutva Group Disrupts Christmas Celebrations in a Slum, Raises Slogans
In a slum in Mumbai’s Kashimira region, a Christmas celebration was disrupted by a Hindutva group, who alleged that local church members were operating a conversion racket during the event and compelled the children to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and recite Hanuman Chalisa. They also urged the children to be staunch followers of the Hindu religion. (Archive)
Mumbai, India
Hindutva leaders stopped the Christmas celebration, and made children recite the Hanuman Chalisa and chant “Jai Shree Ram.”
We urged the concern authority to maintain peace and religious freedom in the city.@CPMumbaiPolice@MumbaiPolice@Navimumpolice… pic.twitter.com/GpaBsVVqpo— Indian Christian Community (@ChristianIndia_) December 26, 2024
Hyderabad-based media outlet Siyasat reported on the incident.
Haryana: Christmas Event Disrupted by Bajrang Dal Members; Attendees forced to Leave
In Rohtak, Haryana, Bajrang Dal disrupted an event organized by Christians at Punjabi Shiv Dharamshala. They took over the event, recited the Hanuman Chalisa and raised slogans of ‘Jai Sri Ram’, eventually forcing the attendees to leave. A member of the group alleged such events cannot be organized at a Dharamshala, adding that they had to put an end to the Christmas celebrations because they opposed religious conversions. Women attendees were reportedly subjected to rude behavior. (Archive)
In #Haryana‘s #Rohtak, a #Hindutva group members on Wednesday disrupted event held by #Christians on the occasion of #Christmas where former #WWE wrestler #TheGreatKhali was invited.
Members took over the stage, recited #HanumanChalisa and forced attendees to leave the event.… pic.twitter.com/jasw2cfXYt
— Hate Detector
According to The Print, “even before the event began, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal created a ruckus at the venue, alleging that the hidden agenda behind the event was to ‘lure’ people towards Christianity.” The report quotes one of the organizers as saying, “Over Rs 8.5 lakh had been spent on the event, but the people were not even allowed to eat food or snacks at the Dharamshala… I asked the cops—don’t we live in a free country, where everyone has the right to profess their religion? But they didn’t offer any response.”
Dehradun: Bajrang Dal Leader Delivers Incendiary Speech, Calls Christianity a ‘Foreign Import’
In Uttarakhand, Bajrang Dal leader Vikas Verma addressed a gathering near the famous Clock Tower in Dehradun, speaking against Christmas celebrations, which, he asserted, diluted the significance of the Hindu faith. In his address, he referred to Christianity as a ‘foreign’ import and urged parents of Hindu families to take cognizance of their children’s growing distance from their faiths and traditions. The speech, sections of which have surfaced on social media, is clear evidence of the Hindu Right’s growing intolerance against celebrations by other faiths. (Archive)
Bajrang Dal leader Vikas Verma, during a Hanuman Chalisa gathering in Dehradun on December 24, made false claims against Christians. He questioned Christmas celebrations, accused families letting kids wear Santa hats of being “converted,” and criticized convent schools, while… pic.twitter.com/Mr7nmzf5GQ
— The Observer Post (@TheObserverPost) December 26, 2024
Madhya Pradesh: Cut-out of Hindu Deity Ram placed on Christmas Tree
The Nexus Indore Central mall celebrated Christmas festivity by installing a huge Christmas tree along with other decorative embellishments. A video surfaced on social media showing a group of people wearing saffron stoles/scarves (Hindutva outfit) carrying a huge cut out of Hindu deity Ram and placing it on the Christmas tree and jabbing saffron flags on the tree while chanting Hindu slogans. (Archive)
Kerala: Reports of Harassment and Vandalization of Christmas Decorations in a School
On December 20, in Palakkad, Kerala, three members of the VHP entered the premises of Nallepilly Government Upper Primary School, which was decked for Christmas and proceeded to vandalize the decorations (Archive).
This is from #Palakkad, #Kerala.
On December 20, Three members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (#VHP) threatened the teachers of a school for organising #Christmas celebrations and vandalised the decorations. They have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. pic.twitter.com/5tpulSz2bx
— Hate Detector
In their complaint, school authorities said that they were questioned and verbally abused by VHP members who also asked them whether the school observed Krishna Jayanti. The three VHP members, identified as K Anilkumar, V Susasanan, and K Velayudhan, were arrested by the Chittoor police for harassing the faculty. However, three days later, a Christmas crib arranged for celebrations at the Government Boys School at Thathamangalam in Palakkad was found destroyed.
How Social Media Reflected Increasing Intolerance against the Christian Community
Instances of targeted harassment of Christians were also recorded on social media in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
On December 22, content creator Akash Sagar (@akashsagar_97) uploaded a video on Instagram in which he could be seen singing the Hindi song ‘Ram Siya Ram’, from a Church pulpit, in Mawlynnong, Meghalaya. The post met with heavy criticism from a section of social media users. At the time of this article being written, the Instagram post reached an audience of over 5 lakh. Angela Rangad, a prominent social activist from Shillong, filed a complaint with the Laithumkrah Police, stating that Sagar had “…deliberately and in a premeditated and planned way trespassed into the altar area and shouted non-Christian slogans and mockingly sang non-Christian songs.”
View this post on Instagram
A day before Christmas, self-styled godman Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, who also goes by Bageshwar Dham, made a controversial statement. He proclaimed that Christians living in India were actually Hindus, since they are also from Hindustan. (Archive)
क्रिसमस डे के एक दिन पहले पंडित धीरेंद्र कृष्ण शास्त्री ने कहा- इस देश में रहने वाले प्रत्येक ईसाई हिन्दू हैं क्योंकि यह देश हिंदुस्तान है और मुसलमान-ईसाई की आठवीं और नवमी पीढ़ी हिंदू है वे रामलाल और श्यामलाल है. सभी सनातनी है कोई पराया नहीं है, हम हिंदू राष्ट्र बनाकर ही… pic.twitter.com/Vx9rmO3nvg
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) December 24, 2024
On X, user @viprabuddhi claimed that ‘Christianity’ is nothing more than corruption of the term ‘Krishna neeti’”, urging Christians to ‘return back to their roots’, and worship Lord Krishna again. (Archive)
“Christianity” is nothing more than corruption of the term “Krishna neeti”.
Jesus was the messenger of Shri Krishna sent to this realm to spread his gospel.
Christians should return back to their roots and worship Lord Krishna again.
Merry Christmas
pic.twitter.com/ewInPMjPth
— do’o kappa (@viprabuddhi) December 24, 2024
Another Instagram user (officialprincepandatncr) posted a video on December 26, showing a man dressed in Santa Claus attire, cleaning the hood of a car with ‘Jai Sri Ram’ written on it. The post was viewed more than 2 lakh times and was subsequently removed. Here is a screenshot:
Earlier this month, data released by the United Christian Forum said that 2024 saw 834 incidents of violence against Christians in India from 734 in 2023, a near 14% rise. “These incidents take on a number of forms: attacks on churches or prayers meetings, harassment of those following their faith, ostracisation and limiting access to community resources, and false allegations and criminal cases, particularly those pertaining to ‘forced conversions’.”
The post Alt News Report: How hostility towards Christians peaked around Christmas, cutting across states appeared first on Alt News.
This content originally appeared on Alt News and was authored by Ankita Mahalanobish.
Ankita Mahalanobish | Radio Free (2025-01-24T13:05:22+00:00) Alt News Report: How hostility towards Christians peaked around Christmas, cutting across states. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2025/01/24/alt-news-report-how-hostility-towards-christians-peaked-around-christmas-cutting-across-states/
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