Telugu Churches hail new Telangana government

By Matters India Reporter

Secunderabad, Dec 8, 2023: The apex body of Christian denominations in the Telugu speaking states has congratulated the new government of Telangana state.

The Federation of Telugu Churches (FTC) and its state wing, the Telangana State Federation of Churches (TSFC) also expressed happiness over the A. Revanth Redd government.

“The Christian Community in Telangana state has been making efforts to usher in a government that upholds the values of secularism, democracy, concern for the poor and the marginalised, and the welfare of the Christian Community,” said the federation’s December 8 statement.

It expressed the hope that the new government will honor all the promises it has made to the minorities and in particular to the Christian Community. The Congress party that formed the government had promised to provide adequate representation to the Christian community in the government at different levels, including the state Cabinet.

The new government headed by Anumula Revanth Reddy took oath as the chief minister of Telangana on December 7.

Among those present at the ceremony were Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, Church of South India Bishop K. Padma Rao of Dornakal and Methodist Bishop M.A. Daniel and Free Methodist Church Bishop John Gollapalli.

The Christian leaders congratulated the new ministers and promised their full cooperation to the government. They also greeted the ministers in the Season of Christmas.

Ahead of the state election on November 30, the Christian groups had presented to political parties 20 demands, including separate parliamentary and legislative seats, land for cemeteries and scholarships.

The Telangana State Federation of Churches, Telangana Council of Churches and Synod of Telangana, representing the entire Christian community in the state, had met in the state capital of Hyderabad early October and decided to ask the parties to include their demands in their manifestos.

The community wanted political parties to give two tickets to Christians for the assembly election and two Member of Legislative Council seats.

“One ministerial berth in the state cabinet reserved for Christians. Four chairpersons’ positions for various corporations to be reserved for Christians. While nominating co-opted members in local bodies, Christians should be considered and proportionately represented,” the community has demanded.

It also wanted the parties to ensure that they give Christians one seat each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

They also wanted parties to promise to pass legislation for the sub plan for their minority community. The plan should not be allocated in proportion to the population, but cover education, healthcare, employment, skill development, welfare schemes and burial.

Another demand was two minority residential schools for Christian students entrusted to Christian organizations or missionaries in the field of education in each of the 10 old combined districts.

Another demand was that all educational scholarships should be given before the beginning of the academic year and overseas scholarships given before the student leaves for abroad.