Smt Draupadi Murmu, Hon’ble President of India responded to the Memorandum dt 31st December 2025 submitted by me in my capacity as the Chairperson of the Indian Catholic Forum (ICF). The Memorandum highlighted the attacks on Christians across India that spiked at Christmas time. Besides creating a fear psychosis in the community it also attracted adverse publicity in the international media.
I had requested ICF members and concerned citizens (not limited to Christians) to endorse the Memorandum to the President, and several did so. One of them was Rev Sunil Rosario of Kolkata, a Core Committee member of the ICF. On 7th January 2026 Lakshmi Maharabooshanam, Under Secretary to the President, responded to Rev Rosario stating that our Memorandum had been forwarded o the Home Ministry for necessary action and advised us to follow up the matter with the said ministry.
Accordingly on 8th January I submitted a follow up letter to the Home Ministry at hshso@nic.in referencing the email from the President’s office and seeking immediate redressal. I also forwarded to them a report in the Wall Street Journal (USA) dt 2nd January that had the headline “The Hindu Attacks on India’s Christians”; with the by-line “Modi stays silent as chauvinists in his party assault the religious minority”. This widely read report has brought shame on the entire country, not just the Central Government or the Prime Minister.
We therefore reiterated our appeal for an end to the hate campaign and violence against the Christian community in India. We need to here clarify that nowhere in our Memorandum have we accused Hindus of attacking Christians. We have only referred to various instances of violence against the community. Since the President has officially taken cognizance of the matter it is hoped and prayed that some action will be forthcoming.
I may be permitted to here mention two earlier instances of success in petitioning the Government. In 2009 Dr Zakir Naik’s Peace TV was spewing venom and inciting misunderstanding among communities by denigrating Hinduism and Christianity. I had then petitioned the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, as also the British High Commission in India, as Naik was then using an address in Birmingham, England. In due course, through RTI, I was informed that the channel had been banned in India.
Another instance was when the Samajwadi Government in U.P. had passed an order for protection of Muslim graveyards in 2014. I petitioned Sri H.T. Sangliana, the Vice Chairperson of the National Minorities Commission to include Christian cemeteries as well. Shortly thereafter the G.O. was amended and both Christian cemeteries in Kanpur benefited to the tune of several lakh rupees.
The point here is that we should never lose hope. Remember that David slayed Goliath. It is worth repeating what the former said: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the lord of hosts” (1 Sam 18:45). Even the mighty elephant is afraid of the tiny ant. So as 2026 dawns let us face the future with renewed hope and courage.
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