Church leaders discuss how Samuel Reddy helped their causes

Church leaders in India would agree that it would take another decade to find a peer commensurate with Reddy who was even-handed and filled with egalitarian and inclusive principles. Reddy’s audacious decisions and staunch actions had brought cheer to the minuscule community at various times. If Reddy’s death is the greatest loss in the political circle, the same goes for Christians whose pleas had been humbly addressed and grievances punctually redressed by the deceased leader.

Without question, Reddy’s action spoke larger than words. Just ten days back, in a first, the Christian politico dauntlessly adopted a
resolution supporting the Dalit Christians. Remember, not recently or past, has anyone of this stature made such a move to emancipate millions of Dalits whose predicaments fell deaf ears until now. It was something to cheer. The chief minister was praised and thanked by leading Christian councils.

It was not an outright move. The decision to back Dalit Christians came aft er many delegations met at his office and beseeched help. To all, Reddy promised action. Apparently he had even promised to lead a Christian delegation to New Delhi to speak to the highest authorities and bring justice to the 20 million Dalit Christians. Unlike others whose promising words come to satiate their lust for power and yearn for limelight, Reddy’s was factual. Following his visit to Delhi with a delegation, it was pertinent that Minister for Minorities came out with a statement acknowledging that all probes proved the causes of Dalit Christians and a positive response was in the offing.

Further, a perusal of his contributions in his own state evinces more. Thechief minister apart from taking gargantuan tasks that brought unprecedented development had pioneered scores of initiatives for Christians. “He set up the A.P. State Christian Finance Corporation which is first of its kind in the country. He also introduced the novel schemes like Government subsidy to the Holy Land and assistance for Christian Mass Marriages for the first time,” according to Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC), a state-level apex body of the Bishops and Heads of Churches of all Christian Denominations.