Media Release

Belagavi, Dec 21: Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy stated that the JDS-Congress coalition government in the state is committed to overall development of the Christians and announced that a new body would be soon constituted for the overall development of the minority community in the state. He also assured allotment of more funds for the
development of Christians and assured that their long pending grievances regarding the burial lands etc would be resolved soon.

He addressed a gathering of Christians on the occasion of a Christmas programme and inaugural of the golden jubilee year of the Belgaum diocese Board of Education (BDBE) that was held late Wednesday night in the premises of St Xavier’s High School here. Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Peter Machado presided over the celebrations that were held on the eve of Christmas.

“While I wish you all a very warm Merry Christmas and blessings of Lord Jesus Christ, I would like to also announce that a Christian Development Board will be soon constituted elevating the present Christian Development Council with allotment of additional funds for the overall development of the community,” he said.

Lauding the role of Christians in humanitarian services, he also urged Christians to pray to Lord Jesus to save mankind from the wrath of nature due to which thousands of people are dying. “I appreciate the relentless service rendered by Christians toward the poor and sick. May the celebration of birth of Jesus bring peace and harmony to all the people around the world,” CM Kumaraswamy said assuring that officials would be directed to sort out various grievances faced by the community across the state.

Earlier in his speech Archbishop Dr Peter Machado said that Christians are committed to its services and prayers for the betterment of society. “We are very happy to have the presence of the chief minister and we thank him for his graciousness toward our community, but there are many issues that our minority community feels that are necessary to be considered. We are facing problems due to pending issues like appointments of teachers in our minority schools, establishment of a special commission, places of burial lands across the state etc.” Archbishop Peter lamented.

Minister for major industries and ITBT K J George, minister for tourism Sa Ra Mahesh, minister for minor irrigation and water resources Putturaju, council chairman Pratap Chandra Shetty, leader of opposition in the council Kota Srinivas Poojari, chief whip in the assembly Ganesh Hukkeri, council vice chair person Dharmegowda, bishop of Gulbarga Dr Robert Miranda and a large number of MLAs and MLCs from across the state comprising of Soumya Reddy, Vanisha Nero, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Appaji Gowda, Gopalaswami and others who were present for the function were felicitated at the hands of the archbishop. A plaque commemorating the Golden Jubilee Year of Belgaum Diocese Board of Education was also unveiled at the hands of the chief minister. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy celebrated Christmas by cutting a cake and
offering it to Archbishop Peter Machado.

Former chief whip of the council MLA Ivan D’Souza took the initiative of organizing the programme. Administrator of the diocese Fr Eusebio Fernandes welcomed the gathering. Diocesan secretary for Board of Education Fr Allwyn Sudhir, Fr Lucio Fernandes, Fr Faustine Lobo, public relations secretary Louis Rodrigues and a large number of priests, nuns and Christians were present at the function.