Ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Telangana, the state Congress unit is under fire over a list of demands for minorities that is being dubbed the Congress ‘Christian manifesto’. The list comes at a time when Rahul and Sonia are both set to campaign in the state. 

The list, which has gone viral on social media, was reportedly submitted on October 9, in which the party’s minority cell has made a host of demands for Christians. 

The list appears to have been compiled by the Telangana State Congress Committee (Minority Departments) which is seeking a host of SOPs for the Christian community which includes demands for protection for Christian Bishops, funds, subsidy for Christian pilgrimage, houses for Christian journalists and seats allotted in in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Assembly for Christians.

Sources from Congress Telangana said that nothing’s confirmed as of now and that it’s just a letter from the minority cell head which is recommending the 10 points (mentioned below) as a proposal. Nothing, the source said, has been accepted till now.

These are the demands that have been put forward:

Need protection for Christian Bishops, Pastors (Mainline as well as independent) and Evangelists.

Salaries to be paid for pastors

Allocate government lands to construct Churches in each Mandal.

Subsidy for the Christian pilgrimage

Seats for Christians to be allotted in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Assembly for the welfare of Christians

Need houses for the Christian journalists and support for medical and for their children education.

Christian Bhavan in State & Christian Community halls in Districts

Allocate subsidy for the Christian pilgrimage.

 Seats for Christians to be allotted in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Assembly for welfare of Christians

Need houses for Christian journalists and support for medical and their children’s education

The Election Commission would issue the notification for poll-bound Telangana on November 12, Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said Friday.

"The Notification for the polls will be announced on Monday (November 12).We have called all the political parties today to discuss various issues with regard to rules for filing of nominations and the Model Code of Conduct, among others," he said at a press conference here.The Election Commission (EC) had on October 6 announced the election schedule for five states, including Telangana, which will go to the polls on December 7.He said there would be over 32,574 polling stations in the Telangana and some more may be set up, depending on the number of voters.As many as10,280 polling stations in the state have been identified as critical, based on various parameters.Replying to a query, Kumar said that as of now the commission did not apprehend any major disturbance during polls in Maoist infested areas.

Various agencies have so far seized Rs 64.35 crore in unaccounted cash and about Rs 5.16 crore worth illegal liquor during searches, he said."Over 78,000 suspected trouble-mongers were bound over by police, 7,367 non-bailable warrants have been issued to people involved in cases and over 10,000 NBWs are yet to be executed," he said.On the reported charges and counter charges between caretaker irrigation Minister and Congress leader V Pratap Reddy, Rajat Kumar said they had issued notices to both the leaders, seeking an explanation.The assembly polls were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year.But the Assembly was dissolved on September 6 as per a recommendation by the state cabinet.