Christians 'clash' over property Bills

Hyderabad, Dec 4 (UNI) Members of the Christian Community clashed in the presence of Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabber today over two proposed Bills relating to protection of property belonging to the community.

Utter pandemonimum prevailed for sometime at the meeting called by the Andhra Pradesh Government to elicit the community's views on the draft Bills with some groups supporting them and others opposing.

While those supporting the initiative raised slogans hailing Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for his ''bold'' initiative, those opposing the move staged a noisy protest for 'interfering' with their right to administer property.

The Minister restored order assuring them the government would not not do anything without the community's consent.

Anglo-Indian MLA and Assembly House Committee Member Christiana Lauserez said the draft Bills were prepared on the lines of the Hindu Religious and Endowments Act 1987 and the Wakf Act 1995 to protect the property belonging to the community.

However, AP Federation of Churches Executive Secretary B Dhanam wanted the government to constitute a special court for speedy disposal of cases concerning Christian property.

UNI