Leading Indian Christian politician killed in helicopter crash

The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has been killed in a helicopter crash along with four others on Wednesday whilst travelling from the state capital Hyderabad to Chittoor district.

|PIC1|Under the leadership of Dr. Y.S Rajashekhara Reddy, the state had appealed to the federal government to amend the Indian Constitution to grant Scheduled Caste status to millions of Untouchable ‘Dalit’ Christians, which would have conferred numerous benefits upon them.

The 60-year-old chief minister, popularly known as YSR, was travelling to Chittor when his helicopter encountered fatal difficulties - reportedly prompted by bad weather.

The charred bodies of the AP Chief Minister and four others were found Thursday in Nallamala forest in Kurnool district, 24 hours after the accident, according to Press Trust of India (PTI).

Reddy, in his second term as AP Chief Minister was credited with steering his Congress party to a second stint in power in May.

Along with him in the ill-fated helicopter was his principal secretary P. Subramaniam, his chief security officer A.S.C. John Wesley and the two pilots - Group Captain S.K. Bhatia and Captain M.S. Reddy.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has said it is in deep mourned following the announcement of the incident.

Dr Sajan K George, the GCIC National President has also expressed his condolences over the untimely death of Dr. YSR Reddy. He said, “Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was a pro poor politician and his death is a big loss for the State.

“His leadership was invaluable and he was one of the leading figures of the country.

“Thanks to Dr. YSR Reddy, Andhra Pradesh State Assembly adopted a resolution seeking Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians.”

He added: “Dr. Reddy had appealed to the Centre to amend the Indian Constitution to provide for granting the Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians."

Born into a protestant Christian family at Pulivendula in Cuddapah district on 8 July 1949, YSR led the Congress party to a second term in the state legislative assembly and also increased its tally of MP's in the Federal government. Out of the 42 MP seats in AP, the Congress party claimed 33.

PTI reported that the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, adopted a resolution highlighting various welfare schemes implemented by him during his first tenure as Chief Minister.

"He gave a new thrust to the women's self-help group movement and made Andhra Pradesh the leading state in enrolment and empowerment of women," it said.

The resolution said: "Reddy has passed away in tragic circumstances. He was at the peak of his political career and popularity when the hand of fate intervened. In his death, the country has lost an eminent political leader, an astute administrator and above all a friend of the poor and downtrodden."

Meanwhile, K Rosaiah, 77-year-old Finance Minister and the senior most Congress leader was sworn in Wednesday as the new Chief Minister of the state.

The state government has declared seven days of mourning from Thurday to 9 September, as a mark of respect to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Times of India has reported.

The chief minister’s body will be kept at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium from Friday morning till about 1 p.m. to allow the general public and the political leadership to pay their last respects.

It will then be flown to his native village in Cuddapah district for final rites.

“GCIC offers sincere condolences to his wife and children and prays that the Sovereign Lord grants Eternal Rest and Peace to His Soul,” Bangalore-based Christian advocacy group said in a public statement.