Chennai: Peace would prevail all over the world if the most important tenet of Jesus Christ, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,’ was followed by all, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Tuesday when he assured the minority communities in the State all help.
The teachings of Jesus Christ that repeatedly stress on equality, fraternity, unity, mercy, justice, sacrifice and sharing should be adhered to by individuals, the society, the nation and the entire world and governments should shun discrimination and treat all people as children of the same mother, Stalin said at a Christmas celebration in Chennai.
Conducted by ‘Christava Nallenna Iyakkam’ (Christian Good Thoughts Movement), an organization led by MLA Inigo Irudhayaraj, the annual event was more of a secular gathering as leaders of several faiths had turned up to celebrate Christmas, Stalin said, recalling his 13 year association with the movement.
On the demand by Irudhayaraj regarding the stoppage of assistance for minorities by the Union Government, the Chief Minister said the State government had been writing repeatedly for the release of the payments and if the government in Delhi did not relent, the State would extend all help.
Recalling the various schemes launched by his government for the benefit of the minorities, including Christians, launched by the DMK government like the enhancement of grants for those taking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he said the DMK government would extend all support to minorities.
He said that starting from the setting up of the Minorities Welfare Commission in 1989 by M Karunanidhi, subsequent DMK governments had taken several steps and formed many bodies to ensure the growth of the Christian community in the State.
The DMK government, in line with the preaching of Jesus Christ, is an embodiment of grace as it embraced all the marginalized people - whether they are Sri Lankan Tamils or transgendered people or Narikorava community members or those in the margins of society or children with special needs, Stalin said.
