MUMBAI — A senior Indian cardinal has hailed a new state administration led by a party that represents the main rival to the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP party, and which came to power partly on the basis of promises of respect for minorities. rights.
Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad congratulated A. Revanth Reddy of the Congress Party, who led his coalition to victory in the south-central Indian state of Telangana on November 30, and who recently took charge as the chief minister of the state.
“The ascension of Revanth Reddy to this important responsibility reflects the confidence reposed in his leadership abilities by the people of our vibrant state,” said Poola, who also heads the Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Council (TCBC).
“Ravanth Reddy embarks on a new journey. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Telangana will continue to prosper and flourish, reaching new heights of development and inclusion,” said Poola, the first cardinal from India’s traditionally marginalized Dalit community.
“The Archdiocese of Hyderabad and TCBC look forward to collaborating and supporting Revanth Reddy’s vision for a harmonious, progressive and equitable Telangana state,” he said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to contribute to the well-being and improvement of our communities, working hand in hand with the new government for the greater good of all citizens. »
Poola attended the inauguration ceremony with leaders of other local Christian denominations.
In early October, ecumenical bodies representing Telangana’s approximately 8.5 million Christians, including around five million registered voters, met in Hyderabad and submitted a series of proposals to the various political parties.
Key elements of these proposals included appointing a Christian to a ministerial position in the state cabinet, appointing Christians as presidents of various state-controlled corporations, ensuring that Christians are proportionally represented in local councils and the allocation of seats to Christians both in the state and in the state. federal legislatures.
Additionally, Christian groups have proposed new funding for education, health care, welfare and employment, as well as burial costs for members of minority communities. As part of this plan, they called for boarding schools for Christian students to be turned over to Christian organizations or missionaries with state support, including expanded scholarships.
Montfortian Brother Varghese Theckanath said Node that the manifesto was handed over to Reddy at a November 13 meeting of 1,800 Christian leaders from all parts of the state, and that his Congress party agreed to respond to his proposals.
Before the elections, the state-level Congress Party issued its own “minority declaration,” which promised, among other things, educational assistance for young Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other minorities; monthly stipends of approximately $120 to $145 for clergy from minority groups, including Christians; a one-time bonus of about $2,000 to newlywed Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other minorities; and the allocation of land and protection of Muslim and Christian cemeteries.
According to Theckanath, the state’s large Christian population meant that the Christian vote was decisive in several local constituencies.
