Protestors vandalise Christmas, New Year decorations in Ahmedabad mall
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats Ahmedabad City witnessed fresh tension over Christmas celebrations on Saturday after Hindu outfit workers allegedly vandalised Christmas decorations at a prominent mall on SG Highway, triggering police action. Members of a Hindu organisation staged a protest against Christmas celebrations at a mall near Thaltej on Ahmedabads SG Highway. According to police, four to five workers associated with the outfit suddenly entered the mall, headed straight for the central atrium, and pulled down the Christmas tree installed as part of Christmas and New Year decorations. The act, carried out in full public view, created panic among shoppers and forced mall security to rush in as the situation spiralled within minutes. The workers demanded that all Christmas trees and related decorations be removed immediately, a police official said, adding that mall authorities tried to calm the protesters and explain that the decorations were part of routine year-end festivities. Despite repeated requests, they vandalised the decorations, following which we were informed and reached the spot, the officer said. Assam marks 'anguished' Christmas celebration after VHP, Bajrang Dal activists vandalise school, shops; 4 arrested Police teams detained the workers on the spot to prevent further damage and to restore order, as security inside the mall was briefly tightened to manage the sudden rush and confusion. The incident comes against the backdrop of widespread Christmas and New Year decorations across the city, where malls and public spaces traditionally put up Christmas trees, Santa Claus figures and festive lighting between December 25 and December 31. What is usually seen as a commercial and seasonal celebration, however, has now become politically and socially charged. Just three days earlier, the Federation of Parents Associations, along with a saffron outfit, had protested against Christmas celebrations and holidays in schools. In a letter addressed to the state Education Minister and the District Education Officer, the federation demanded that Christmas holidays should not be granted and warned that schools celebrating Christmas could be forced to shut. The letter alleged that some schools were making Christmas celebrations mandatory before December 31 and involving children in activities such as dressing up as Santa Claus. No religious celebration should be imposed on students without prior consent of parents, the memorandum stated, claiming that such practices hurt cultural sentiments and were unnecessary, especially when, according to the federation, there was no justification for holidays during Christmas. Uttarakhand: RSS, other Hindu outfits object to Christmas celebration at hotel on banks of Ganges, event cancelled
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