Palakkad: Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were arrested for disrupting a Christmas celebration at a school in Kerala’s Palakkad district. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, saw members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal storm into the school premises during the festive programme, reports The Hindustan Times.
According to reports, the group alleged that the event was promoting religious conversion, objecting to the singing of Christmas carols, prayers, and Christian symbols displayed during the celebration. The protestors also criticized teachers dressed as Santa Claus, accusing the school of imposing “another religious culture” on Hindu students.
The group further claimed that the school administration was ignoring Hindu festivals like Krishna Janmashtami and confronted the staff aggressively. Their demonstration escalated with slogans accusing the school of conducting activities deemed inappropriate for an educational institution.
In response, secular groups such as the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Youth Congress organised a counter-protest. They held a symbolic Christmas carol event, complete with music, sweets, and a Santa Claus, emphasising Kerala’s commitment to secular values. Protesters stated, “Kerala’s secular society will reject such divisive attempts.”
Union Minister George Kurian condemned the disruption and called for stringent action against the accused. He stressed the importance of fostering inclusive celebrations in schools, representing all religions.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan criticised the Sangh Parivar for attempting to disrupt communal harmony. The BJP distanced itself from the incident, urging an impartial investigation into the matter.
This incident has raised concerns about rising communal tensions and the need for preserving secularism in educational spaces. Authorities have assured thorough investigations to prevent further occurrences of such disruptions.
