Kashmiri female voters wait to cast their votes during the fourth phase of India's general elections in Srinagar May 7, 2009.
(Reuters)
Christians in Gurdaspur, one of the constituencies in Punjab, while declaring some of their demands, said there is no question of voting for BJP.
The district will go to polls on May 13.
"This time we want a change in Punjab and Christians are not going to vote for the BJP or the Akali Dal. We are all fed up of their anti-Christian policies and moreover their leaders are never accessible to us," Kanwal Bakshi, state president of Punjab's United Christian Front (UCF), told IANS.
Bakshi estimates that there are around 900,000 Christian voters in Punjab, while 150,000 alone are from Gurdaspur district.
UCF in its set of demands to political parties have called for two per cent reservation in state government jobs for Christians, like in Kerala.
"Despite the fact that Christians are in such large numbers in Kerala, they still have reservation. Then why can't we have it in Punjab?" he asked.
In addition, a state minorities commission and safeguarding of churches and Christian properties in the state.
Bakshi also demanded that some of the churches that are centuries old be declared as heritage property.
"There are around 60 churches in Punjab, constructed by the British, which are nearly 150 to 200 years old. They are in a dilapidated condition and nobody is bothered about their preservation. We want the government to declare them heritage property," said Bakshi.
The Christian group has stated to be more pro-Congress, as some of its candidates have agreed to consider and implement the demands of the Christians.
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India's national elections that were held in five phases beginning April 16, will conclude on May 13. The results will be out by May 16.
