Minority federation to back DMK-Congress secular front

SALEM: The Salem district federation of minority groups of various Christian denominations, on Saturday decided to vote for candidates of the DMK-Congress inclusive ‘Secular Progressive Alliance’ in the April 18 Lok Sabha polls and for the 22 Assembly bye-elections including four to be held on May 19.

After a meeting of the various Christian minority groups in the eight districts that come under the western belt of Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Namakkal and Tirupur, the forum’s coordinator, Bishop Shanthi Premkumar told reporters here that all minorities across the country including Christians, Muslims and other minority groups were facing “deep insecurity” and some of them have been vulnerable to attacks.

Moreover, to foil the designs of the ‘communal forces’, the minorities forum has decided to support DMK-Congress candidates in all the eight districts. He also appealed to the minorities in other districts of Tamil Nadu to also support the DMK-led secular front in the elections. “We are working for the victory of the secular alliance candidates in all the constituencies,” added Bishop Shanth.