Andhra Christians issue charter of demands

The charter of demands wanted political parties promise to continue the grant-in-aid to the Church-run educational institutions and fill up vacant aided posts pending since 2004 without further delay.

Hyderabad:  Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC) has issued a charter of demands to political parties in the state, which include a six decade-old demand to grant reservation rights to dalit Christians.

The charter was issued after the APFC held its seventh general body on March 27. The group is the state-level apex ecumenical body of Christian groups in the state, including Catholic and Protestant bishops.

The meeting in Hyderabad discussed the upcoming general elections and urged all the citizens especially the Christians in the state to exercise their right and duty to vote.

The Christian leaders wanted all political parties to include their demand in political the manifestoes and implement them in Andhra Pradesh state, and Telangana after bifurcation.

The charter of demands wanted political parties promise to continue the grant-in-aid to the Church-run educational institutions and fill up vacant aided posts pending since 2004 without further delay.
They also wanted to enact the “Prevention of Communal Violence Act” and “Prevention of Minorities Atrocities Act” in line with the “Prevention of SC ST Atrocities Act”.

Another demand was to Constitute the State Christian (Minority) Finance Corporation fully and allocate at least 15% of the funds and schemes under the Prime Minister’s 15 Point Program and Minority Welfare budget.

They also demanded Representations to Christians in the legislative and civil bodies, administrative panels and in various commissions / boards. At least one Assembly seat in each district and two Lok Sabha seats in the State must be assigned to Christian Minority, they said.

They wanted political parties to promise to allocate government lands for the construction of churches, community halls, education institutions and burial grounds.