Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi. He extended his warm greetings to citizens across the country. He described Christmas as a reflection of the “timeless message of love, peace and compassion.”
PM joins Christmas prayers at Cathedral Church
The Christmas morning service consisted of prayers, carols, and hymns, creating an environment of sincerity and celebration. Rt Rev Dr Paul Swarup, Bishop of Delhi, delivered a special prayer for the Prime Minister, emphasising the occasion’s spiritual significance.
Sharing his experience on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister said the service reflected the core values of Christmas and expressed hope that the festival would inspire unity and compassion. “May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society,” he wrote, adding that the occasion should bring renewed hope, warmth and a collective commitment to kindness. Earlier in the day, he greeted citizens, stating that the teachings of Jesus Christ continue to strengthen peace and harmony in society.
The Prime Minister’s presence underscored his constant engagement with the Christian community. He has attended several key Christian events, including an Easter programme at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2023 and Christmas celebrations hosted at his residence the same year. In 2024, he participated in a dinner hosted by Union Minister George Kurian and attended a programme organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
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BJP leaders' participation in community celebrations depicts nothing but irony
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor Renu Chaudhary proceeded from a warning to an apology in not much time after a video of her threatening a foreign football coach in east Delhi’s Mayur Vihar to learn Hindi within a month or stop using a municipal park to train children went viral.
In the video, uploaded to her social media on Saturday, Chaudhary is seen confronting a man she specifies as an “African” football coach. Renu Chaudhary regularly shares videos of her educating people about what she thinks is wrong. She shared a clip on her Instagram handle where she is showing proudly how she confronted a man she described as an “African” football coach who has been coaching children at a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) park for years. “Kyun nai seekhi Hindi? Agar isne ek maheene me Hindi nai seekhi toh iss se park chheen lo (Why have you not learnt Hindi? If he does not learn Hindi in a month, snatch the park from him,” Chaudhary can be heard saying in the now-deleted video. Someone was spotted laughing in the background; in context to that, Chaudhary angrily adds, "Hasne ki baat nai hai. Serious bol rahi hu ye… Yaha ka paisa kha rahe ho toh muh me bhi Hindi bolna seekho (It is not a laughable matter. I am serious… If you're making money here, learn to speak in Hindi. She has even apologised for her actions publicly, but this incident exposes the intent and the motivation behind such an act.
The number of atrocities on Christians by certain organisations shows the dual face of the largest party in the country. The discrimination is the darkness behind the lure of politics. Alongside the Prime Minister’s visit, senior BJP leaders also marked the occasion with community interactions. BJP national president and Union Minister J. P. Nadda took part in Christmas celebrations at the Christian Higher Secondary School in Delhi. He addressed a group largely comprising members of the Naga community from Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, Nadda. He recalled the teachings of Jesus Christ that promote love, compassion and service to humanity in his speech.
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The Christmas celebrations in the national capital spread a broader message of inclusivity, compassion and social harmony and also leave behind an irony. With the Prime Minister and senior leaders participating in religious and community events, some leaders discriminate against someone because he cannot speak Hindi.
