JD(S) talks of development corporation for Christians

The Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka has promised Christians a separate development corporation if it comes to power in the assembly elections.

JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said he held discussions with Christian leaders on setting up the Karnataka Christian Minority Development Corporation.

Kumaraswamy, who also met the Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras, said the setting up a separate corporation will help the economic empowerment of the community.

However, it will only be a reality if the JD(S) is elected to power, he informed.

The former Karnataka chief minister, Kumaraswamy also stressed on peace and co-existence for harmony in the society.

In that regard, he said the Christian community had displayed patience and tolerance several times when there were attacks in the coastal districts.

"The Congress and the BJP are the two sides of the coin. Both parties try to split the society. Neither the Congress nor the BJP has made honest effort to create harmonious atmosphere in society," he alleged.

Kumaraswamy, who was speaking at a convention organized by the Christian minority cell of the party, further said that the state had been battered in the past four-and-half-a-year rule of the BJP.

"The Congress alleges that JD(S) paved way for the BJP rule in the state. That statement shows the party's narrow-minded thinking. I did not allow BJP to rule the state and I did not give opportunity for BJP leaders to engage in illegal activities," the Times of India quoted him saying.

Christians account for about 1.9 percent of the state's population

Attacks on Christians shot up in the state after the BJP came to power in May 2008. Incidentally, the state recorded the highest number of anti-Christian attacks in India last year.