Modi hosts Christmas celebrations in loud messages to world & Kerala

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, December 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted several Christian personalities drawn from diverse world of academia to sports to send out a loud message to the world as well as Kerala ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Modi spotlighted the cherished space of the Christian community in India by also recalling that Mahatma Gandhi had said that “the Non-Cooperation Movement was conceived under the patronage of Sushil Kumar Rudra, Principal of St. Stephen’s College”.

The grand hosting of the Christmas celebrations by Modi has come close on the heels of the prime minister giving an interview to the Financial Times of the UK wherein he had countered the western lamentation on the issue of religious freedom. The US-based agencies have regularly been raising alarms over the alleged decline in the degree of religious freedom.

To a question of the Financial Times if his government will rewrite the Constitution to make India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Modi had asserted that such claims are meaningless. But the western media has been projecting Modi as Hindi hawk and also a chauvinist in their commentaries which have gained aggressive tone in the recent months in the backdrop of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelling allegations of a murder charge of Harjeet Singh Nijjar against New Delhi.   

Modi told the Christian community leaders on Monday that “the nation proudly acknowledges the contribution of the Christian Community. Gandhiji himself had said that the Non-Cooperation Movement was conceived under the patronage of Sushil Kumar Rudra, Principal of St. Stephen’s College.”

The Prime Minister said, “May this festival strengthen the bond that keeps us united even in our diversity. May this occasion of Christmas fill all our lives with happiness. May the coming year bring prosperity, happiness, and peace for all of us.”

It may be recalled that a section of the church leaders from Kerala have been calling on Modi for the past one year. Political observers in Kerala have claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party is making strategic moves to make an outreach with the Christian community in Kerala who hold significant influence in the politics as well as business of the southern state.

While the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh is active in Kerala for several decades, the BJP has failed to make inroad in the state politics. But the BJP now appears eyeing the 18 per cent Christian population in Kerala for a target electoral constituency.

The BJP in the past has successfully made outreach to the Christian communinities in Goa, as well as the Notheastern states of Nagaland and Meghalaya. Having defeated the CPI (MP) in Tripura, the BJP hopes to take the help of the Christian community to gain a foothold in Kerala now.

Prominent persons from the Christian community from across the country participated in the interaction with the prime minister. The PMO said in a statement that “Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church of India and Archbishop of Bombay, who has also served as member of the Pope’s Council of the Cardinal Advisers, thanked the Prime Minister for his presence on the occasion”.

Sports icon Anju Bobby George mentioned the transformation of sports over her long sports career. The PMO said: “She recalled the tepid response in her times and how the country and the leadership celebrate today’s athletes’ accomplishments. She acknowledged that through Khelo India and Fit India, sports are being talked about and Indian athletes are doing great in the international arena. She credited the Prime Minister’s leadership for the transformation.”

The Rev. Dr Paul Swarup, the Bishop of the Diocese of Delhi, Church of North India recalled the story of the Gospel and the advent of Jesus Christ. He highlighted “the sacrifices made by Jesus Christ for people and drew the analogy of the efforts of the Prime Minister towards society and the people”.

The PMO also said: “John Varghese, Principal St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, as a representative of the education community, commended the Prime Minister’s vision, determination and large-heartedness as reflected in the new National Education Policy and other policies as well.”

Archbishop Anil Couto, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi thanked the Prime Minister for organizing the Christmas celebrations at his residence which signifies that is not just a celebration of the Christian community but a national feast.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, The Rev. Dr Paul Swarup reiterated his happiness of celebrating Christmas with the Prime Minister at his official residence. Bishop Thomas Mar Antonios thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to engage in a dialogue and discussion with him on the auspicious occasion of Christmas.

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