Don't make Hindu Children Santa: right-wing VHP warns MP schools

Bhopal: The right-wing outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Madhya Pradesh wrote school principals, asking them not to make Hindu children Santa Claus during Christmas celebrations, IANS reports.

This was after the group learned that students were being made Santas, and they were asked to bring Christmas trees as part of the celebrations.

IANS quotes the VHP letter, "This is an attack on our Hindu culture, it is a conspiracy to inspire Hindu children to Christianity."

They asked why the celebration is held in non-missionary schools too.

".. are the schools promoting Christianity by making Hindu children Santa?" the group asked.

VHP stated, "Our Hindu children should become Ram, become Krishna, become Buddha, Gautam, become Mahavir, become Guru Govind Singh, all these should become, become revolutionary, and become great men, but should not become Santa."

It threatened that if students were made Santa Claus without the permission of the parents, the VHP would take statutory legal action against that school.

Around a year ago, a group of people affiliated with VHP and Bajrang Dal attacked a Christian school, vandalised its properties and beaten up devotees during a holy communion. This happened in Madhya Pradesh'sPradesh's Vidisha district, while the law enforcement did not give the required security to the school, even after the fringe groups had issued threats earlier. The Christian community here then alleged that up to December 2021, 70 incidents, including 32 violent attacks, have been reported from Madhya Pradesh after the MP Freedom of Religion Act came into force in January 2021, Hindustan Times reported.

Meanwhile, the archbishop asked community members to help the needy and move forward on the path shown by Jesus Christ.

Churches in Bhopal have been decorated, and the people of the Christian community are preparing for the festivals as they attend special prayer services, set up cribs, prepare sweets and decorate their homes.

"Pope Francis has laid stress on simplicity and conservation of environment from the different traditions, which we follow during Christmas," Archbishop A.A.S Durairaj said in his Christmas message.