Fringe Festive Violence: Christmas Attacks Threaten India’s Global Standing – R. Bharati

Rising Extremism Tarnishes India’s Legacy of Tolerance, Sparks Global Concern

by Ms. R. Bharati – Special Correspondent from New Delhi | Award-Winning Journalist & Documentary Filmmaker.

New Delhi — A wave of orchestrated violence and intimidation targeting Christmas celebrations across India has drawn severe condemnation, casting a dark shadow over the nation’s pluralistic ethos and threatening its standing on the world stage. Analysts warn that the actions of Hindutva extremist elements are not only fracturing communal harmony at home but also risking severe economic and diplomatic repercussions abroad.

The incidents, involving attacks on churches, disruption of religious services, and vandalism in markets and malls, represent a stark betrayal of India’s civilizational values of tolerance and coexistence. These acts, perpetrated by fringe groups, have ignited a fierce debate about social responsibility and the urgent need for governmental accountability.

The Price of Hatred: India’s Global Image at Stake

The most significant fallout, observers note, is the damage to India’s international reputation. As these incidents gain global media attention, they fuel perceptions of instability and intolerance, directly impacting the lives of the Indian diaspora.

“The wrongdoing is committed by these hateful elements, but the punishment is suffered by responsible and industrious Hindus,” noted R. Bharati, an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. “In European countries and Muslim-majority nations, Indians increasingly face suspicion and hostility.”

The concern is particularly acute for Indian professionals, students, and businesspeople overseas. There is a growing fear that continued domestic unrest fueled by extremism could lead to tightened visa scrutiny, weakened trade relations, and a devaluation of India’s soft power. As Bharati warns, “If Prime Minister Modi and the government fail to impose strict control over such hate-mongering elements in time, the day may not be far when Indian citizens are turned back at immigration counters at foreign airports.”

A Cowardly Crusade: Fringe Actions vs. National Leadership

Critics have highlighted the glaring hypocrisy and cowardice of the perpetrators. These extremists, often with no stake in the global community they jeopardize, target vulnerable communities while ignoring the practices of India’s own leadership.

“Ironically, the children of many Hindu ministers in the country are studying abroad and openly celebrate Christmas. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has visited churches on Christmas,” Bharati pointed out. “Would these so-called patriots ever dare to go to the homes of such leaders and question them? Absolutely not, because they neither possess the courage nor the stature to do so.”

Their “bravery,” as described by commentators, is confined to narrow lanes and mob settings, a far cry from the airports and international hotels that symbolize the global India they inadvertently undermine.

A Call for Decisive Action to Safeguard the Republic

The recurring violence has sparked a forceful demand for concrete legal and administrative action. The onus is now squarely on the government to demonstrate that the rule of law is supreme and that minority rights are non-negotiable in a secular democracy.

The broader Hindu community, which forms the bedrock of India’s societal and economic fabric, is being forced to bear the brunt of consequences crafted by a reckless few. “These hate-driven fringe elements will remain unaffected, as they have nothing to lose. But millions of hardworking citizens of this country have everything at stake,” Bharati emphasized.

The consensus among civil society and thought leaders is clear: protecting India’s image, economy, and social harmony is not merely important—it is essential. The time has come for unambiguous laws and their stringent enforcement to curb the forces of hatred, ensuring that the nation’s future is not held hostage by the violent whims of extremist hooligans. The world is watching.