Hyderabad: All India Christian Council (aicc) has condemned the attack on a Pastor in Adilabad district allegedly by the driver of the Member of Assembly (MLA) from Adilabad and sought necessary action against the culprit.

In a memorandum submitted to Opposition Leader and President of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N Chandrababu Naidu, aicc secretary Sam Paul sought the TDP leader’s intervention in bringing justice to the victim.

On 26 March 2008, Hanok Sanjeev, an independent Pastor working in Tandur Bellampalli mandal of Adilabad district, was roughed up by Bheemaiah, the driver of Adilabad MLA Sridevi and admitted to a local hospital with serious injuries. Following the intervention of aicc, an FIR was filed against the driver.

Sam Paul said, “Under your leadership, the Telugu Desam is committed to maintaining secular status, upholding human rights and fundamental rights of religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution and execution of the rule of law. But unfortunately one Pastor in Adilabad was beaten up by the driver of TDP MLA Sridevi. The police are inactive to execute necessary against the offender. MLA Sridevi should follow the philosophy and vision of the Telugu Desam and honour by upholding the ethos of the party and status of the Constitution. She should not take law into her hands and damage the credibility of the party.”

“Therefore, I request your good office to kindly intervene in the matter and let the law of the land take its own course. The guilty should be punished. We are for peace and communal harmony. We are for development of the people in Andhra Pradesh. Kindly help the minority Christians live in peace with all other communities,” Sam Paul added.