“Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has stopped all welfare schemes for Christians introduced by the TDP government,” Andhra Pradesh party chief N Chandrababu Naidu said in a statement.
Post Date – 12:30 PM, Saturday – 4/15/23
Machley Putnam: Andhra Pradesh party chief N Chandrababu Naidu said Christians should work with TDP to use their churches as a platform to help eradicate poverty in Andhra Pradesh.
He made the remarks to priests at a meeting in Gudiwada town, Krishna district, on Friday night, where he observed that the Christian community was no exception, amid allegations of harassment by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
“Jagan has stopped all welfare programs for Christians introduced by the TDP government,” he said in a statement.
The former chief minister claimed that many Christians were forced to surrender their properties and organizations, while the “Christian Bhavan” he built during his tenure was turned into a quarantine center during the Covid pandemic.
Meanwhile, pastors present at the meeting appealed to top TDP supporters and reiterated that Dalit Christians should be given Scheduled Caste (SC) status, including emphasizing that the community is being persecuted in the name of religious conversion.
Responding to their plea, Naidu said, “As a leader, I am here to understand your perspective and to get a first-hand account of the issues and issues you are facing. TDP always discusses issues with people from different walks of life , and accept your suggestions and proposals. The party will certainly consider them.” Elections will be held in Andhra Pradesh in 2024. The polls are likely to be held in conjunction with next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
