Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 4: President of Karnataka Christians Social Welfare Development Association, Harry D'Souza, said that the central election commission and state chief electoral officer had been approached with a request to extend exemption to Christian staff deployed for election duties in cases where the election falls on the previous day of Good Friday, one of the important religious occasion of Christians. "The concerned have written to district electoral officers to take suitable steps," he added.

Harry noted that a day prior to Good Friday is known as Holy Thursday, which is observed by Christians by way of worship, mass, and fasting. Special masses are arranged in churches on that day. Most of the Christian educational institutions in the district are located inside church premises. Polling booths are located in them, and section 144 is enforced. Therefore, it will create problems for the people attending churches. Therefore, we had asked the concerned to shift such polling booths. The concerned have been instructed to consider this request too, he said, addressing a press conference here on Wednesday April 3.

Office bearers of the association, Dr Edward Louis, Stany Lobo, Patric Pais, and Stany Vaz were present.