Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nar Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the season of Christmas.
“Christmas is the greatest festival in the world, celebrated with grandeur worldwide. It is celebrated on the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world,” he said, wishing that “His mercy be upon us all.”
Naidu was speaking at a semi-Christmas function held here on Monday, where pastors offered special prayers. The Chief Minister cut the cake and shared it with the pastors.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister announced plans to set up a Christian Missionary Properties Development Board, which would provide financial support for the construction and maintenance of churches.
Naidu reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the poor, stressing that he is dedicated to eradicating poverty. He also shared his vision for a poverty-free society in “Swarnaandhra Vision 2047” which aims to address economic inequality and promote collaborative efforts to reduce inequality.
He said that Christianity is a symbol of love, compassion and service. He explained how even before India became independent, Christian missionaries inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ had established educational institutions that provided quality education and good health care.
Naidu encouraged everyone to follow the example of Christ, remember his sacrifice, follow the path of peace and promote the philosophy of love.
He recalled that in his capacity as the Chief Minister of the unified AP, he had instructed to celebrate Christmas and Semi-Christmas in the district. He said that the government will always stand by for the welfare and safety of the minority community.
He recalled that during the attack on a church in United Andhra Pradesh, he personally went to investigate, ensuring that such incidents were prevented.
Naidu said his government prioritized the welfare of the Christian community, offering them financial assistance for building churches. “The government has allocated financial assistance of up to 10 lakh rupees to each service organization. 2 acres of land was allocated for a Christian building in Guntur and Rs.10 crores was earmarked for its construction. However, due to recent government negligence, the project stalled.”
He said that his government has provided Rs 1.5 crore for the CSI Saint Basilica Church in Vijayawada and funds have also been sanctioned for the Christian cemetery.
The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s provision of pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, tuition fee reimbursement for Christian students.