India Alert: Andhra Pradesh plans fund for Christian pilgrims

Posted December 19, 2006


December 18,2006
Deccan Chronicle
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Hyderabad, Dec. 18: The State government would consider a subsidy for Christians to travel to Bethlehem, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy said on Monday. Responding to Hyderabad Archbishop Marampudi Joji's request at the United Christmas Celebrations, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy assured that the government would study the possibility and financial implications of such a subsidy.

At present, the government subsidises Muslim pilgrims to perform the Haj. Bishop Joji said, "I visited the holy land and prayed at the place where Jesus was born. I request the government to assist Christians to fulfil their wish of making a pilgrimage to the holy land by subsiding the cost to some extent."

Dr Reddy replied, "The government is allotting a budget for construction of churches in towns and villages. While increasing the allocation we can adjust some money." On the issue of dalit Christians, Bishop Joji said, "Dalit Christians should be given SC status. I request the Chief Minister to get a resolution passed in the Assembly, as the UP Assembly has done, and send the recommendation to the Prime Minister, as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has done." Dr Reddy assured that he would examine the proposal. Bishop Sugandhar, legislator Christine Lazarus among others took part in the celebrations