CHENNAI: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Friday condemned what he described as a surge in attacks on Christians and interference in Christmas celebrations by groups associated with the RSS across several states.

In a social media post, he said December 25 was a public holiday across the world, yet in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP is in power, the holiday had been withdrawn.

In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Christmas celebrations at a church in New Delhi.

Shanmugam said the contrasting actions reflected a "carefully scripted hate-politics drama" which Christians should recognise. He strongly denounced the attacks and urged that the rights of the Christian community to celebrate its festivals be fully protected