Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy promised that the Congress party, if voted to power in next elections, would ensure security and welfare of Christian community in Telangana State.
Addressing a meeting of All India Christian Federation at YMCA, Secunderabad on Monday evening, Uttam Kumar Reddy promised that the next Congress Government would give honorarium to Pastors and Fathers on par with Pujarais of Temple and Imams/Maozan of mosques.
“I’ve always supported the demand for granting SC status to Dalit Christians. Rahul Gandhi will be our next Prime Minister. Will speak to him regarding this and if required we will bring legislation to grant SC status for Dalit Christians,” he promised.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also promised that all Pastors and Fathers would be given Health and Accidental Insurance of Rs. 5-5 lakh, double bed room houses or financial assistance to construct their own house and their children would be entitle for free education.
He said the all Churches, along with other places of worship, would be free power supply. He also promised to introduce a better system for release of funds for construction and repairs of Churches.
The TPCC chief reminded that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had laid the foundation stone for a Christian Bhavan with much fanfare. But the occasion only proved to be a photo session for KCR and he insulted the entire Christian community by not taking up the works.
He promised that the next Congress Government would construct a Christian Bhavan within one year after formation of government.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also promised that the next Congress Government would construct hostels and Skill Development Centres for students belonging to Christian community. He also promised to order a CBI probe into the encroachment of properties belonging to Churches and would take measures to restore them.
He said a Commission, headed by a retired judge of High Court, would be established to study the socio-economic conditions of Christian community in Telangana.
The TPCC Chief assured that members of Christian community would be nominated as Co-Option member in Zilla Parishads, Mandal Parishads, Corporations and other bodies.
He said grant-in-aid would be given to the Christian minority institutions in the State and required assistances would be provided to aided schools.
He said government lands would be allotted for the construction of new churches. He said Christian youth would be provided loans for self-employment scheme and all jobless youth in the community would get Rs. 3,000 Unemployment Allowance every month.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also promised to establish a Christian Study Circle for students. He said a new scheme would be introduced to give subsidy for those going on holy journey to Jerusalem. He said the next Congress Government would strengthen the Christian Minorities Finance Corporation by giving adequate funds.
He said the corporation remained neglected under TRS regime and KCR neither gave funds not filled the vacancies.
The TPCC Chief said that a Christian Welfare Board would also be constituted to take up welfare programmes at a large scale. He said the Minorities Commission would be given judicial powers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy appealed the Pastors, Fathers and other members of Christian community to support the Congress party in next elections. “After Modi came to power, there have been various kinds of attacks on institutions run by Christians and other minorities.
They tried to suppress Christians and other minorities across the country. After independence, for the first time, we are witnessing incidents of religious discrimination and intolerance. Congress is a secular party and it believes in communal harmony.
Every person has a right to live the way he wanted to. But only after Modi came to power, questions are being raised on what we eat, wear or to whom we marry. This is not a good trend. It must be stopped by defeating BJP and Modi in next elections. But if you wish to defeat Modi in Delhi, you must beat TRS in Telangana,” he said
The TPCC Chief alleged that the KCR was an agent of Modi and voting for TRS was like voting for BJP. He also alleged that KCR has gone to Delhi to hold secret talks with Amit Shah and Modi. He said KCR has been supporting Modi since beginning and now he has been unmasked.
“Christians will be given equal importance in the Congress party. We are a secular party and believe that all religions should co-exist in a peaceful manner. We respect every one and each of us should be free to practice our religions and beliefs. Congress party is totally against the Modi Government which targets specific religions and castes,” he said.
Further, he said the defeat of TRS in Telangana would be the first jolt to Modi in Delhi. He claimed that the Congress party was all set to form the next government in Telangana on December 12. He appealed all to work for the Congress party for the next 40-45 days to ensure its victory.
The meeting was also attended by Pastor. Vijay Raju, Rev Samuel, Congress leaders Anil Thomas, Anjan Kumar Yadav, Adam Santosh and others. (INN)