‘Santa Filed an FIR’: Christmas ‘Violence’ Sparks National Row Over Religious Freedom in India

'Santa reached police station': AAP flags Christmas 'violence, intimidation'; FIR lodged

It was a headline that blurred satire and sobering reality: “Santa Claus has reached the police station.” In a press conference that quickly went viral, Delhi Health Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj used this provocative imagery to spotlight what he described as a disturbing pattern of Christmas violence in India during the 2025 holiday season .

Bharadwaj wasn’t just being theatrical. His statement was a direct response to a wave of reported incidents in multiple states—including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and even Kerala—where local Christmas events were allegedly disrupted by groups described as “right-wing goons.” In one of the most symbolic acts, a person dressed as Santa Claus in Delhi reportedly filed a formal First Information Report (FIR) against these alleged perpetrators, demanding action for “violence and intimidation” .

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The ‘Santa FIR’ Incident: What Happened?

The image of “Santa” filing a police complaint may sound like political theater, but it stems from a real event. In Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar area, a Christmas celebration was allegedly interrupted by a group of individuals who claimed the event was “anti-national” and “forced conversion,” according to organizers . In response, a volunteer in a Santa suit, representing the aggrieved community, went to the local police station and lodged an FIR .

The FIR reportedly names unidentified members of a “right-wing organization” for causing public nuisance, intimidation, and creating a hostile environment for religious minorities. While police have confirmed the FIR was registered, they have not yet named specific suspects or organizations .

Nationwide Reports of Christmas Violence in India

The Delhi incident was not isolated. Across the country, at least a dozen similar disruptions were reported in the week leading up to Christmas Day 2025:

  • Madhya Pradesh: In Indore, a carol procession was stopped by local authorities citing “law and order concerns,” though no official permit violations were cited .
  • Chhattisgarh: In Raipur, a church event was vandalized, with posters defaced and loudspeakers damaged. Local Christian leaders alleged the attackers were from a local Hindutva group .
  • Kerala: Even in a state known for its religious harmony, a Christmas fair in Thrissur faced protests from a small but vocal group claiming the decorations were “too Western” and “diluted local culture” .

These reports, while varied in severity, have collectively fueled a narrative of rising intolerance toward public expressions of non-Hindu faiths, particularly during major religious festivals.

Political Fallout: AAP and Opposition Accuse BJP

The AAP wasted no time in turning these incidents into a national political issue. Party national spokesperson Deepender Singh Hooda accused the BJP of creating a “climate of fear” for religious minorities. “This is not just about Christmas. It’s about the systematic erosion of India’s secular fabric,” he stated in a press release .

The Congress and other opposition parties echoed these sentiments, calling for an all-party meeting on minority safety. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “When Santa needs police protection to celebrate Christmas, you know democracy is in trouble” .

The BJP, for its part, has denied any official involvement and called the AAP’s claims “politically motivated fabrications.” A BJP spokesperson stated, “India is a secular democracy where all religions are respected. We condemn any act of violence, but we also reject attempts to politicize isolated incidents” .

Religious Freedom and Minority Safety in India

The controversy sits at the heart of a much larger and more complex debate about religious freedom in India.

Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to “freely profess, practice and propagate religion.” However, in recent years, international watchdogs like the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have placed India on its “Special Watch List,” citing growing incidents of violence and legal discrimination against religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims .

Activists argue that laws against “forced conversion”—often called “love jihad” or “religious conversion” laws—enacted in several BJP-ruled states, have been weaponized to harass Christian communities and discourage public celebrations like Christmas and Easter .

The Role of Social Media and Misinformation

As with many such controversies, social media played a dual role. While it helped amplify the voices of those affected by the incidents, it also became a breeding ground for misinformation.

Several viral posts falsely claimed that Christmas was “banned” in entire states or that churches were being “shut down,” which were later debunked. Yet, the emotional resonance of these posts often outpaced the facts, deepening societal divisions and making objective reporting more difficult.

Conclusion: A Deepening Cultural and Political Chasm

The story of Santa filing an FIR is more than a curious news item—it’s a stark symbol of the anxieties facing India’s religious minorities. The alleged Christmas violence in India during 2025 has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation about identity, secularism, and the future of pluralism in the world’s largest democracy. As political parties gear up for upcoming state elections, this issue is likely to remain a potent and polarizing force in the country’s public discourse.

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