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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Delhi HC asks Jaideep Sengar to surrender in Unnao custodial death case
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Friday asked Jaideep Sengar, brother of Unnao rape case convict Kuldeep Sengar, to surrender before jail authorities in connection with his conviction in the custodial death case of the survivor's father.
A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja was hearing a plea by the convict for further extension of interim bail upon suspension of the 10-year sentence.
It observed that the interim bail granted to Jaideep Sengar in July 2024 was last extended in April 2025 and since then, in spite of five dates, no order of any further extension or suspension of his sentence has been passed by the court.
As the senior counsel for Jaideep Sengar urged the bench to extend the period of his release on account of his health, the bench said, "You surrender and then we will see."
"Although there is no extension of interim suspension of sentence granted, we find he has still not surrendered. Before we proceed to consider his application for further extension of suspension of sentence, we require the appellant to first surrender," the bench ordered.
The senior counsel for Jaideep Sengar assured the court that he would surrender by Saturday.
The court listed the matter for hearing next week.
Jaideep Sengar, 50, sought the bail extension on the grounds that he is suffering from oral cancer.
The Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) counsel had earlier said it was not a fit case for extension of interim bail, and the prescription given by Jaideep Sengar in support of his plea was fabricated.
In his application, Jaideep Sengar said he was suffering from stage IV oral cancer, a life-threatening condition, and had developed clinical signs of recurrence.
The condition, the plea said, required continuous and specialised medical care.
The plea also informed that Jaideep Sengar has spent about four years in custody.
The high court had granted interim bail to Jaideep Sengar on July 3, 2024, for two months on medical grounds.
Kuldeep Sengar was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life on December 20, 2019, for raping the minor in 2017.
On March 13, 2020, Kuldeep Sengar, along with Jaideep Sengar, was sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment by the trial court, which also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh, in the custodial death case of the rape survivor's father.
The survivor's father was arrested, allegedly at the behest of the accused, under the Arms Act and died in custody on April 9, 2018, owing to police brutality.
The trial court said no leniency could be shown for killing a family's sole breadwinner.
