Protect Christians from atrocities: Christian Front

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Mar 22 (UNI) Leaders of Christian Front today appealed to the Andhra Pradesh government to protect Christians from atrocities by bringing in a special enactment.

A total of 12 prominent Christian leaders, in a memorandum, a copy of which was released to the Press here, demanded that the state government should provide Rs five lakh as ex-gratia to the families of Christian preachers who were killed in the state.

They wanted the government to repeal GO 746 and 747 of Revenue (Endowments) Department, that violated the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.

Expressing serious concern over the ''usurping'' of properties belonging to Christian organisations, they urged the government to provide protection to Christian charitable and religious properties from illegal sale and to restore those properties, which were sold clandestinely.

Their other demands include provision of reservation to Christian minorities on the lines of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, allocation of separate Budget for Christian minorities in the Andhra Pradesh State Finance Corporation and other allied social welfare schemes.

The Christian leaders wanted the government to bring in a special amendment to the Foreigners Act, 1946, to enable free movement of Christian missionaries to attend gospel meetings.

UNI XR-AP GKT KK BD2015