By Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, May 16: The whole world knows the contribution of Christians in the service of the nation, especially in the service of education and health. Christians are credited with making the country well-educated and healthy. Such neglect of the Christian community is purely politically motivated.

Christians who are service minded by blood and heritage need to be interested in the political arena as well. There needs to be awareness among Christians about voting. That it is ridiculous that Prime Minister Modi and the NDA group are talking about the minority and the majority of the nation, said AICC secretary and former MLC Ivan D'Souza of Mangaluru.

Ivan D'Souza spoke while presiding over an interaction meeting organized at Hotel Sai Palace in Chakala, Andheri East, a suburb of Mumbai on Thursday morning.

Former Maharashtra government minister Suresh H Shetty, AICC secretaries Ashish Dua, B M Sandeep, former Karnataka government minister B Ramanatha Rai, former Karnataka minister and Vinayakumar Sorake, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Congress (I) party MP candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde, former chairman of Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) Henry Lobo, Youth Congress Leader Amit Jagannath Shetty, businessman Albert W D'Souza were seated on the dais of the meeting.

Albert D'Souza, Henry Lobo, Dr Neil Abreo, Pastor Devdan Tribhuvan, advocate Sharan B D'Souza spoke on time and convinced the need for voting.

Suresh H Shetty said that today's meeting shows the enthusiasm of the Congress party. "The role of Christians is important for national spirituality. There is no evidence of conversion in India. All this is a politically motivated conspiracy. Christian brothers have always been blameless citizens of the nation. He said that even the creator cannot tolerate such violence and oppression of the people," he said.

"A period of change has begun in Indian politics. It is a tragedy for the nation that the Modi government, which is ten years old, is going to change the constitution of the country. Amendment and reform of the constitution is possible but change is impossible. As voting is important for building a healthy nation, choosing a qualified person is equally important. that this responsibility should be the responsibility of all of you," said Jayaprakash Hegde.

In the meeting, Mumbai Congress (I) Party Andheri District President Clive Dias, Bombay Catholi Sabha Former Vice President Lawrence D'Souza Mulund, Dimension (Global Christians Chamber of Commerce) Directors Sylvester Rodrigues, Steven Fernandes, CA. Arun Vas, Nilesh Menezes, Members Ivan Anand D'Souza Nakre, Dolphy D'Souza, City Clerk Winnie B. D'Souza, Chairman Bantwala Urban Development Authority (BUDA) & Bantwala Block Congress President Baby Kunder, National Co-ordinator of All India Kisan Congress Suresh Shetty Yeyyady, Businessmen John S.Rebello Chemburu, Francis Castellino Mahakali, Jayakar Shetty Siddhakatte, Denzil Allipade and others Christian leaders were present.

The senior vice-president of the Mumbai Congress (I) party, ex-Womens Wing President Janet L D'Souza welcomed and gave the introduction speech. A former corporator from Miraroad Marline D'Sa proposed a vote of thanks.