Govt should officially observe Christmas as Christa Jayanti': Ivan D'Souza

September 30, 2016

Mangaluru, Sep 30: In a controversial demand, Ivan D'Souza, chief whip of the government in the Legislative Council, has urged the Karnataka state government to officially observe Christmas.

Speaking to media persons in Mangaluru the MLC said that it was the demand of Christian community that their festival should be observed by the government as Christa Jayanti' or the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ starting from this year.

He also said that the government to convert the Christian Development Council (CDC) into a Corporation and earmark at least Rs. 300 crore for development of Christians in the state budget of 2017-18.

Mr D'Souza, who was recently appointed as the vice-president of the CDC, said that he had already urged the State to set up one hostel for Christian students in the headquarters of the 24 districts where the community is present in significant numbers.

He said there is a lack of awareness about the various development schemes formed by the government for Christians. Adding that he has undertaken extensive tours of districts with sizeable Christian population, he said, “The lack of information about government schemes is evident in these districts.”

He said the demands to form a corporation and open hostels for Christians were based on the outcome of meetings with community members during his tour of Bidar, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Belagavi districts, which have a Christian population of about five lakh.

Another demand is to increase the fund allocated under the Bidai scheme for brides from minority communities from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. The State government should observe Christmas officially as Christa Jayanti', Mr D'Souza added. He said the suggestions would be placed before the government soon.

Comments

You forgot to include one more demand: \Release Rs 1 lakh under Mathanthara Bhagya scheme to those who convert into Christianity\""

All demands are good except 'Christa Jayanti'. In fact govt level Christa Jayanti is not the demand of Christian community. It's just demand of a politician.

This is guts. UTK and modin bava should learn from these catholic representatives.

Now pakistanis also may start demanding Karnataka govt to officially celebrate hafiz saeed jayanati..

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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