Vijayawada: Christians in Andhra Pradesh who vowed allegiance to the ruling Telugu Desam are ruing the way they are being treated by the powers that be in the party. Christians form at least 15 per cent of the total population of the state and form a major chunk of the vote bank.
Despite the Christian credentials of YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a majority of Christians stood as a strong support base for the TD in the last general elections. However, now they are disappointed with the ruling party.
Christians are annoyed about the importance being given to Muslims by the TD leadership, especially after snapping ties with the BJP-led NDA. They are of the opinion that similar importance is not being given to them.
The reason being that it has been four-and-a-half years that the new government has been formed, but heads of the AP Christian Finance Corporation (APCFC) like chairman and directors have not been appointed.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had promised that the vice- chairman’s post of the state minority commission would be given to Christians which was also not honoured. The post of chairman of the minority commission went to the Muslims.
The Christians feel that a dedicated executive body to the APCFC would help them do repairs of churches, burial grounds and also provide financial assistance to poor Christian youth.
In the absence of the executive body, all these tasks are not being done properly in the state.
“Christians constitute about 15 per cent of the total population in the state. Lack of strong leadership from the community is depriving them of their share in the welfare programmes,” a Christian leader of the TD said.
With influential Bishops and pastors keeping themselves away from politics, the party leadership is not giving the community due preference while filling the coveted nominated posts, felt another senior leader.
“Christians are numerically strong but completely ignored by the government. It would not do the party any good in the next elections,” criticised a pastor who did not wish to be quoted. He said that they just wanted their share of '15,000 crore being spent on BC welfare.
Christians in Telugu Desam are eagerly waiting for the filling up of posts of the Christian Corporation.
The government constituted at least six new corporations in the last eight months, except for the Christian Corporation. TD Christian leaders are disappointed at the continued neglect of their community.
