Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Mar 14: Forum of Christians United Services (FOCUS) in a press release has requested concerned government officials not to assign election work to Christians on April 18.
The Election Commission earlier had announced that Lok Sabha elections will be held in Karnataka on April 18 and April 23. April 18 is the Election Day in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Both the districts have sufficient number of Christian community people. But April 18, the Maundy Thursday, is a holy day for Christians. Special prayers are held on that evening at all churches. Christian community members take part in those prayers.
If Christians are assigned election work on that day, they will not be able to take part in the religious programme.
Therefore to preserve the religious rights allowed in the constitution, FOCUS has requested to change the date of elections on April 18 and hold the same on April 23. If it is not possible due to administrative reasons, the association of Christian government officials, employees and engineering contractors has submitted an appeal on behalf of FOCUS to the deputy commissioner not to assign election work to Christians on that day. Sushil Noronha, convener of FOCUS has requested the deputy commissioner to take suitable action on the request.