Christmas message: Archbishop of Bangalore calls for peace, unity, respect for Human Dignity
Bengaluru: Archbishop of Bangalore, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, has said that Christmas is a universal celebration that transcends religious boundaries and carries a timeless message of hope, love and new beginnings.
In his Christmas message issued on December 24, Archbishop Machado said the birth of Jesus Christ reminds humanity that God chose to enter human history not through power or privilege, but in humility and simplicity. He said Christmas calls upon people to rediscover the values of compassion, forgiveness and mutual respect.
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“Christmas urges us to move away from fear and suspicion and to build bridges of understanding and solidarity,” the Archbishop said.
Highlighting the principle of human dignity, Archbishop Machado said that God created every human being in His own image and likeness, bestowing equal dignity on all. This truth, he said, leaves no room for discrimination, violence or exclusion. He added that people are called to live as brothers and sisters, working together for peace, justice and the common good.
Appealing to people of goodwill, the Archbishop urged a renewed commitment to peace, unity and harmony. He called upon families, neighbourhoods and communities to become spaces of dialogue, care for the poor and concern for the vulnerable.
On behalf of the Christian community, Archbishop Machado extended Christmas greetings to all and prayed that the sacred season would renew commitment to humanity and nation-building. “Christmas calls us to replace hatred with humanity, division with dialogue, and fear with hope,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior political leaders visited the Archbishop’s House in Bengaluru to convey Christmas greetings. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar visited the Archbishop on December 20, 2025, during a Christmas gathering. Chief Minister Siddaramiah also met Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado on December 23, 2025, to greet him on the occasion of Christmas.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
