Congress Leader KC Venugopal condemns BJP over alleged religious intolerance against Christians

Congress leader KC Venugopal on Tuesday strongly condemned the BJP for what he described as the party’s growing hostility and intolerance towards Christians in India. He accused BJP leaders of deliberately targeting minorities, citing a recent incident involving a visually impaired Christian woman.

“This is the true face of BJP’s rabid hatred towards Christianity,” Venugopal said in a statement. “Their leaders will go to any lengths to insult minorities in India, even if that means attacking a blind lady.”

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The accusation centres on an incident on December 22 at a church in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, where Anju Bhargava, a BJP district vice president, allegedly mistreated a visually impaired Christian woman. Reports claim Bhargava, along with members of the Hindu Raksha Dal, disrupted the church service and harassed Christian women. The episode quickly spread on social media platforms like Facebook, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups alarmed by rising religious intolerance and threats to freedom of worship.

Venugopal accused the BJP and its affiliate organisations, including the Sangh Parivar, of orchestrating systematic attacks on Christians, often with the tacit approval of the ruling regime. He referenced similar incidents reported in BJP-ruled states such as Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

He also highlighted an attack in Palakkad, Kerala, where RSS members reportedly targeted a children’s carol choir, describing it as an example of the BJP’s true nature. “PM Modi has been playing a facade of affection for Christians for years, but his party and its affiliates reveal their real character time and again,” Venugopal said.

Warning about the broader implications, Venugopal stated, “Venom and hatred are the BJP’s gifts during Christmas. This is a warning to all minorities that the BJP’s parochial, hate-filled agenda cannot tolerate India’s pluralism and will relentlessly attack everyone who does not fit their narrow worldview.”

The incident and subsequent statements have intensified the ongoing debate about religious freedom and minority rights in India amid rising communal tensions.