On the Good Governance Day (December 25th): Bharatiya Christians, Let Us Write to create Peace not Panic

Today, I wore a BJP cap normally. My local area councillor is a BJP, and we support him. I just boarded an auto rickshaw. The rickshaw driver, a good Muslim man, asked me out of curiosity, “What is this on your head?” I replied, smiling: “It is a cap.” I was not welding a gun or a sword. I carry a Bible in my heart and in my bag. However, I have never asked any good Muslims about the caps that they wear. And never asked it in a demeaning way, “What is on your head?” I write this to give you a perspective on how things look and how certain factions make them appear. We, Christians, should write to create communal harmony, not panic or disharmony.

 

The Catholic Connect did a piece on violence against Christians, alleging that the Bajrang Dal organised a rally with over 500 participants. It passed through a “Christian area” surrounding a Catholic church in Thandla, Jhabua district, on Christmas Day. No violence happened, but the catholic reporter states: They chanted anti-Christian slogans and carried weapons, intimidating Christians of the area.[1] I skimmed through all their pictures, but did not find any weapon, such as a gun or sword, as they claimed in their article. Besides, the images show armed police walking alongside the procession to prevent any untoward incidents.

 

On inquiry, I understood that it was a procession commemorating the anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a former Prime Minister born on December 25th. The government calls it “the Good Governance day,” but, unlike Gandhi Jayanti or Ambedkar Jayanti, it is not a holiday. Some good Christians who do not know anything about the guy who made Bharat a nuclear power and called Graham Staines’ killing a ghastly attack, perhaps, got confused about the choice of the day. Good Christians can celebrate Christmas, but we shouldn't tell others whether they have the right to hold a procession on days that are special to them.

 

Again, what is a Hindu neighbourhood or a Christian neighbourhood in a multi-religious and pluralistic country? They need permission only from the police, not from any community. The Bajrangis got permission, so they conducted a rally. Many of these Bajrang Dal activists are Kshatriya. They have the right to carry weapons. They do it not to do violence or to intimidate others. They do it to uphold their warrior tradition, as do the Sikhs. Sikhs carry weapons in Sikh rallies as a sign of valour to protect the weak, not to intimidate others. Even so, none of the pictures that Catholic Connect produced of this Bajrang Dal procession showed any weapons. Either they lied or they did it to create panic among minorities.

 

In sharp contrast, if you have seen Free Palestine rallies in Kerala, you will never question the peaceful processions of Hindus in Bharat. In Kerala's infamous "Hamas" rallies, they all wear Islamic clothes, Islamic caps, carry Palestinian flags, and chant anti-India slogans on our streets. They hold pictures of slain Hamas leaders like Sinwar as their war heroes. They recite anti-India, anti-Modi, and anti-RSS slogans because they lost the war against Israel. How are the BJP, RSS, or Bharat Sarkar responsible for the results of the war between Israel and Palestine? Even if Bharat supports Israel, why should such an anti-national rally be allowed within Bharat? The left government of Kerala permits them. Nobody questions them.

 

The Good Governance Day is Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji's birthday. How many of us even know about it? However, we all know Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti (public holidays). We also know about Children’s Day (Nehru Jayanti) and Teacher’s Day (Dr Radha Krishnan’s Jayanti). They are stalwarts of Bharat, but Vajpayee is also a prominent leader. He worked with Abdul Kalam to make Bharat a nuclear power despite threats from America and the West. Vajpayeeji called the attack on Graham Staines' family a "ghastly one," ordered a prompt enquiry, and got all the guilty ones punished with the maximum possible punishment in Bharat for such a crime.

 

I love all Hindus and Muslims, and I desire them to know Jesus Christ, the King. Therefore, I write to clear misunderstandings between Hindus and Christians, and promote communal peace and harmony. On Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji’s jayanti (which is as big as Gandhi jayanti for the BJP), Modiji first went to a church to celebrate Christmas. He received a Bible happily and asked the priest to pray for him. Narendra Damodardas Modi is not an ordinary RSS member. Modiji is a 15-year CM of Gujarat and an 11-year PM of Bharat. Still, he humbled himself to show solidarity with Christ-followers of Bharat. Only then did he celebrate “Good Governance Day.”


[1] “Armed Bajrang Dal Rally Cuts through Christian Neighbourhoods in MP’s Jhabua.” 2025. Catholic Connnect. 2025. https://catholicconnect.in/news/armed-bajrang-dal-rally-cuts-through-christian-neighbourhoods-in-mps-jhabua.

 

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