Amid Christmas vandalism across India, Shashi Tharoor questions silence of ‘responsible leadership

Posting on X, Tharoor said” “On the silence of some: “In the Mahabharata, when Dushasana tried to outrage Panchali’s modesty in the Kaurava Court, in the presence of teachers, elders, and the Pandavas, even Bhishma remained silent.”

“At that moment, the lone voice of protest arose not from the Pandava side but from within the Kauravas. Vikarna, Duryodhana’s brother, spoke out and said, ‘Elder brother Duryodhana, this is unjust, this is adharma,” he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP’s post continued, “Waiting for someone within the responsible leadership of a party in power to say even as much as ‘Stop, O man of cruelty (Manishada).’”

Shashi Tharoor’s post on X

This comes a day after a group of Bajrang Dal activists stormed a diocese school in Assam’s Nalbari town on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, and destroyed decorations as well as ornaments. The same group also destroyed Christmas decorations being sold at a nearby shop.

Similar reports surfaced from Chhattisgarh, when a mob armed with sticks entered Magneto Mall in Raipur and destroyed Christmas installations.

A video also came to light from Delhi where a group of women wearing Santa Claus caps was being heckled allegedly by Bajrang Dal members in Lajpat Nagar. The video showed the men accusing the women of religious proselytisation and forcing them to leave.

In Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, the education department barred schools from “forcing” children to dress up as Santa Claus on Christmas. A December 22 order stated, “Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch has submitted a letter… stating that for the past few years, children are being made (to dress up as) Santa Claus on Christmas day in schools, whereas Sri Ganganagar district is a Sanatana (Hindu and Sikh) dominated area.”