Churches express deep sorrow over Reddy's tragic death

The tragic death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has deeply grieved churches in India who venerates the politician as a champion of the poor and dispossessed.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) told Christian Today that it's member churches and constituent bodies were saddened by the death of the Christian politician who was a "true leader with determination and conviction."

The council while extending heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families remembered Reddy, popularly known as YSR, as a man who initiated variety of programs for his own state as well as for the welfare of Christians.

"He wanted reservations for Dalit Christians on a par with Muslims and was vocal against those responsible for attacks on minorities," the council of Protestant churches reminisced.

The 60-year-old politician was killed when their chopper crashed atop a hill in the pouring rain in the dense forest region of Kurnool Wednesday.

The Church of North India (CNI), a member body of the NCCI, in a statement, said it joins millions of people who mourn the untimely demise of Reddy who it called a "dynamic, straightforward, visionary and a committed leader."

"He was a person who never forgot his roots. Along with the Church, India has lost a leader par excellence and the state of Andhra Pradesh has incurred loss irreparable," the general secretary, Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, said.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India, a charter member of the World Evangelical Alliance, also rued over the death and called for "prayer for the family of the late Chief Minister and for the families of the four other officers who died in this tragic accident."

It recalled that Reddy in his message on August 19, 2009 to EFI on the occasion of All India Congress on Church in Mission, expressed gratitude to the "Christian churches in India for their service to the nation in the field of education, health and social work and for promoting peace, reconciliation and development of all communities irrespective of caste and creed."

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) called Reddy a "leader of the masses who devoted all his time, energy and resources for the betterment of people of his State irrespective of any caste, color or creed."

"He set his life on a mission so that Andhra Pradesh could be well placed at the national level. His contribution to the State and the nation will be always remembered by one and all in the country," CBCI said in a statement.

A devout Christian, Reddy was a veteran Congress party leader who steered the party to victory in Andhra Pradesh in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

The Prime Minister along with UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and several Union Ministers offered floral tributes to the late leader at the Chief Minister's camp office in Hyderabad on Friday morning.

"In the sad and most untimely demise of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, our country has lost an outstanding leader and the people of Andhra Pradesh have lost an ideal Chief Minister," Singh wrote in a message in the visitors' book.

Government offices, schools and colleges in AP remained closed on Thursday. The government also declared a holiday on the funeral day, which was on Friday.

Incidentally, shocked by the sudden demise of their leader, about 60 people died in different parts of the state - some died of shock, while few others committed suicide.