Mangalore: 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 current 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 do not exist even in other Public Sector Banks. During last assembly elections, only two 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.
The Forum said by such actions it is becoming evident that the Congress is not interested in the votes of the Christian community, and therefore, even Christian Voters may reciprocate in similar line during next election. The Forum expressed that it is considering the options like, dialogue with other secular political parties and exercising of mass NOTA option in voting machine. The forum would continue to discuss the issue with other Christian Organisations in Karnataka and chart out its future course of action which will have a bearing on the election results, throughout the State.
