The DYFI announced that Christmas carols would be organised in all its 2,500 units across the district, asserting that Kerala would not yield to what it described as communal threats.
Published Dec 24, 2025 | 12:16 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 24, 2025 | 1:21 PM
BJP leader C Krishnakumar.
Synopsis: Senior BJP leader C Krishnakumar justified the alleged attack on a Christmas carol group in Palakkad. Following the remark, the DYFI accused him of openly backing those involved in the assault and of failing to condemn what it termed RSS-led violence.
The Palakkad district in Kerala witnessed a fresh political controversy after senior BJP leader C Krishnakumar’s remarks justifying the alleged attack on a Christmas carol group at Kanjikode drew sharp reactions from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Congress and others.
The DYFI, the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M), likened Krishnakumar to “Praveen Togadia in Palakkad,” accusing him of openly backing those involved in the assault and of failing to condemn what it termed a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-led violence.
In a strongly worded statement, the DYFI alleged that the accused attacker has multiple criminal cases against him, is a key link in a local drug network, and had assaulted even children below the age of 14 who were part of the carol group.
The youth organisation condemned Krishnakumar for allegedly abusing the injured children by calling them intoxicated, calling his remarks “communal and regressive”.
Meanwhile, BJP Kerala Vice-President Shaun George triggered fresh controversy by justifying the attack, claiming that the event was “not a decent carol”.
As a counter, the DYFI announced that Christmas carols would be organised in all its 2,500 units across the district, asserting that Kerala would not yield to what it described as communal threats. It reiterated that festivals in the state would continue to be celebrated collectively, cutting across religious lines.
Krishnakumar claimed that those who participated in the carol were drunk and alleged that it was a criminal gang linked to the CPI(M) that carried the band set, remarks that further intensified the backlash.
The Congress accused the BJP of attempting to disrupt communal harmony, alleging that the incident and its justification were acts of political revenge following the party’s failure to garner expected support from the Christian community.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi, George said the carolling had allegedly provoked residents and involved activities such as alcohol consumption.
“Either a decent carolling should take place, or you will get beaten up. That is what happened there,” he said, seeking to rationalise the assault on a group of children, most of them reportedly below the age of 15.
“It was not a decent carol. If it is a decent carol, shouldn’t the church or the diocese know about it? The carol that is being performed should be decent. As far as I know, it was not a decent carol. That is what caused the problem,” George said, advancing what critics have described as a bizarre justification for the violence.
George also accused the Congress of politicising the incident. “The Congress leadership is trying to exaggerate isolated incidents through fake campaigns. Their concern for Christians surfaces only when elections are approaching,” he alleged.
He further claimed that Congress was uncomfortable with the BJP and the Union government maintaining cordial relations with sections of the Church leadership.
Interestingly, George’s political operations are based in Kottayam — a district widely regarded as a Christian vote base in Kerala.
The incident occurred on 21 December at Surabhinagar while the group was moving from house to house. According to the complaint, the accused stopped the carol singers, questioned the CPM inscription on a drum used by the group, and went on to damage the band set and other equipment.
Frightened by the confrontation, the children fled the spot, leaving the instruments behind, which were later found broken.
The accused, identified as Ashwin Raj of Kalandithara in Pudussery, was arrested by the officials at the Kasaba Police Station. Police said two others were also present at the scene during the incident. A case was registered based on the complaint filed by the group.
Ashwin Raj is already an accused under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. In the present case, he has been booked under Sections 192 (provocation with intent to cause a riot), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the BNS.
According to the police, he was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident. Investigations are ongoing.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
