AICC disapproves Evangelist's charge; praises CM

Hyderabad, June 14 (UNI) The All India Christian Council (AICC), inter-denominational alliances of all Christians in the country, today dissociated itself from the allegations made by Houston-based evangelist K A Paul.

The evangelist had levelled allegations against top leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, US President George W Bush, US Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Lauding Dr Reddy as the real peace preacher, AICC National President Joseph D'souza, Secretary-General John Dayal and State President G Samuel told a press conference here that the Chief Minister was not at all provoked by the charges made by Mr Paul.

In fact, Dr Reddy had disapproved violence indulged in by irate party activists, they added.

Mr Paul's charges against the Chief Minister seemed to mirror his statements in different parts of the world when political leaders did not oblige him.''His paranoic charges that Dr Reddy and the US Secretary of State are out to kill him or have sought money from him reflect his state of mind,'' they claimed.

''At a time when Christians are battling persecution from the forces of Hindutva and their supporters in political parties, Mr Paul's diatribe as much as his non-Christian actions will only work against the best interest of the minority community in Andhra Pradesh and the rest of India,'' they opined.

In the US, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a financial watchdog, had suspended Mr Paul's organisation from its membership in the wake of financial irregularities, they claimed, adding that Church groups in US had made it clear that Mr Paul does not represent them in India.

Indian Christians had looked askance at Mr Paul's huge unpaid bills on his use of a private aircraft, they said.

An evangelist and someone with an organistion called Global peace Initiative should stick to his job of evangelism and peacemaking and not drag the name of the Christian community and Christ with his ''unwarranted activities,'' they said Meanwhile, Baptist Church, Hyderabad, condemned the ''baseless allegations'' levelled by Mr Paul against UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister.

Its President Johnson Jacob, Secretary G Jayakar and Pastor G Samuel said they appreciated the sincere efforts of Ms Gandhi and Dr Reddy, who were committed to run an impartial administration for the people of different faiths.

UNI