In a press release, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) asked schools in Madhya Pradesh not to force Hindu students to dress up as Santa Claus and bring Christmas trees without their parents’ permission.
“Bharat is the land of saints and not Santa. Don’t force Hindu students to dress up as Santa Claus without their parent’s permission,” the Vishwa Hindu Parishad- Madhya Bharat tweeted on 24 December.
“Children should be made (dressed up as) Ram, Krishna, Gautam Buddha, Mahavir, Guru Govind Singh, great revolutionaries and not Santa,” VHP said in a press release.
It is an attack on Hindu culture and a conspiracy to inspire Hindu children to adopt Christianity, the press release stated.
Raising concern over the forceful celebration of the Christian festival, the VHP said, “Some schools were forcing students to dress up as Santa Claus as part of Christmas celebrations.”
“Such a directive from schools would entail a financial loss for the parents as they would have to buy the Santa Claus attire,” the VHP added.
“Therefore, all the schools are requested not to dress up Hindu children as Santa Claus without the parents’ prior permission and if any school does so, VHP will take statutory legal action against the school concerned,” the VHP said.
A letter to this effect was sent to schools in 16 districts in Madhya Pradesh which are part of 32 organisational districts of the organisation, VHP Madhya Bharat Prant Prachar Pramukh Jitendra Chouhan said.
