Bangalore, 25 Mar 2014: The Christian community in Karnataka which accounts for nearly 4 per cent of the population feels ‘betrayed and hurt’ by the Congress party for not having fielded even one single candidate from the community in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This is for the first time in the recent history of Karnataka, where Christian Community was denied a ticket for Parliament. The Christian Community in Karnataka feels that Congress is considering Christian Votes, for granted.
The ‘All India Christian Forum’ has said that the community which has been known for its secular beliefs and for its immense contribution to the society in the fields of education, healthcare and social service, has been side-stepped by the Congress party which it has supported in all the elections. In the last elections, nearly 40 per cent of the Assembly seats won by the Congress were with margins of about 6,000 votes. The Congress would not have won these seats but for the backing of the Christian community. The Christian Community is in deep shock, pain and anger for such a ungrateful attitude of party leaders in Karnataka.
The Forum said the community is being ignored by Congress Party on several counts, repetitively, in recent times. The present government in Karnataka was apathetic to the issues of the community, the Forum said and added that the efforts made by the previous government to set up the ‘Christian Development Board’ had not been taken forward by the government now. It’s almost a year now, since the inception of this government, and membership to the ‘Christian Development Council’ has not yet been announced. During Karnataka Rajyotsava awards 2013, not even one Christian was recognized by the present government for the honor which was indicative for its bias against Christians. Christians in Karnataka have started feeling that they have been taken for granted by this State Government.
The Forum mentioned that the schemes under Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation have been modified by this Government in such a bad way that, they are made useless in real sense. Moreover, for loan schemes, the applicant are being forced to get the guarantor, who should compulsory be a government employee. Such rigid rules don’t exist even in other Public Sector Banks. It is also observed that, this government is deliberately sidelining Minority Christians from top posts in the government. Other than the Karnataka home minister, K J George, there is no Christian representation in state cabinet. Even during last assembly elections, only 2 tickets were given to Christian Candidates out of 224, and if the proportionate number of population was to be considered, Christians should have been given at least 8 tickets.