Nation rings in Christmas with hymns, carols

A special Holy Mass and prayer services were held on the occasion. The service was led by Thoothukudi Diocesan Bishop Stephen. During the ceremony, ashes were placed on the foreheads of the faithful.

Congress leader K C Venugopal and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday alleged a mob attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik and members of the Christian community in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, and sought urgent action against those involved.

"PM Narendra Modi has been celebrating Pongal for the last many years. More importantly, the kind of cultural celebrations he undertakes, his home is open to all cultures. Christmas is celebrated in his home. And for the third straight year, the Pongal celebration is happening in different ministers' houses where all the people of Delhi, Tamil origin and different parts of South India, they have come here today. We are very happy that PM himself is leading from the front, connecting all of us culturally," he said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have strongly opposed a plea filed by Christian Michel James before the Delhi High Court, challenging the applicability of the India-UAE Extradition Treaty, terming the petition a misuse of legal process and an attempt to reopen issues already settled by constitutional courts.

The MP said that the polarisation is growing day by day, and that has resulted in life being unlivable for all minorities who live in BJP-ruled parts of the country. The criticism came amidst the arrest of twelve individuals, including Father Sudhir, a Malayali priest of the CSI South Kerala Diocese, Nagpur Mission, and his wife, Jasmine, by the Maharashtra Police following a complaint allegedly filed by "Bajrang Dal activists".