Govt should officially observe Christmas as Christa Jayanti': Ivan D'Souza

Mangaluru, Sep 30: In a controversial demand, Ivan D'Souza, chief whip of the government in the Legislative Council, has urged the Karnataka state government to officially observe Christmas.

Speaking to media persons in Mangaluru the MLC said that it was the demand of Christian community that their festival should be observed by the government as Christa Jayanti' or the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ starting from this year.

He also said that the government to convert the Christian Development Council (CDC) into a Corporation and earmark at least Rs. 300 crore for development of Christians in the state budget of 2017-18.

Mr D'Souza, who was recently appointed as the vice-president of the CDC, said that he had already urged the State to set up one hostel for Christian students in the headquarters of the 24 districts where the community is present in significant numbers.

He said there is a lack of awareness about the various development schemes formed by the government for Christians. Adding that he has undertaken extensive tours of districts with sizeable Christian population, he said, “The lack of information about government schemes is evident in these districts.”

He said the demands to form a corporation and open hostels for Christians were based on the outcome of meetings with community members during his tour of Bidar, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Belagavi districts, which have a Christian population of about five lakh.

Another demand is to increase the fund allocated under the Bidai scheme for brides from minority communities from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. The State government should observe Christmas officially as Christa Jayanti', Mr D'Souza added. He said the suggestions would be placed before the government soon.