At a meeting or rather felicitation ceremony conducted by the Tamil Nadu Christian Churches Federation on 9 June 2026, Assembly Speaker and TVK MLA JCD Prabhakar indicated that the elected government was leaning towards the minorities and that the people of that community must make best use of it.
Starting his speech, he said, “Peter Alphonse is someone who treats me with the affection of a family member. Before the election, when I was contesting from the Thousand Lights constituency, many people asked me, “Why did you choose to stand there?” and questioned whether I could actually win. Even a priest at the Sacred Heart Church asked me how I would manage it. When I said I would win, he was surprised. Brother Peter Alphonse expressed his confidence that I would succeed and become a minister. I told him that the Lord performs wonders and accomplishes great things that are beyond human comprehension; we are but dust and ashes, knowing nothing, yet the Lord guides us in every way. I must also speak about our beloved Leo Nelson; it was he who brought me here. During the election period, when many others had disappeared, Nelson Leo stood by me. He, along with Reverend Devanesan who is also present here worked hard to secure a significant number of votes in the Thousand Lights constituency. Despite the hardships, humiliations, barrage of questions, and mockery from others, they remained undeterred. They treated me with love and helped elevate this campaign from humble beginnings to a position of strength.”
He said, “We spoke about the ‘Independent Church’ initiative; we have organized many such gatherings. In doing so, we are not against anyone. Please bear this in mind first: we are Indian citizens who abide by the Constitution of India, yet we also possess the right to question anyone who acts against that Constitution. As for Tamil Nadu, we have a good government in place. Thalapathy Vijay is the first person in Tamil Nadu’s history to have 234 candidates stand on stage, raise their hands, and pledge to fulfill the promises made to the people – all while aiming for a government that is honest, transparent, and completely free of corruption. You witnessed that at the time; it demonstrated the steadfastness of his resolve. Furthermore, before the election, there was all sorts of speculation labeling him as ‘Team B,’ ‘Team A,’ ‘Team Z,’ or ‘Team Y.’ You must not forget his true identity: a leader who stood firm, feared God, respected his conscience, and honored the promises made to the people. He continues to enjoy the support of people from all walks of life and is driven by a desire to do good for everyone. He is working with a determined zeal to set a new benchmark for how a Chief Minister occupying that high office should conduct themselves. I urge you to pray for him daily in this endeavor.”
He continued, “Tamil Nadu has faced numerous challenges – issues that were unwanted by the people, unacceptable, and even abhorrent. Yet, rising above all these, our Honorable Chief Minister is striving to restore Tamil Nadu as a haven of peace; I earnestly request you to stand firmly in support of all the efforts he is undertaking to achieve this. Next, regarding the requests presented here on behalf of the Federation of Independent Christian Churches: a demand that has been consistently raised for some 40 or 50 years, to my knowledge, is that members of the Christian community belonging to ‘Backward Classes’ should be granted access to the same government benefits and concessions available to Scheduled Castes (SC). I recall the days when our leader, Moopanar, and others including Brother Peter Alphonse strove to have this enacted in Parliament. Later, the late Chief Minister ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’ Amma wrote a lengthy, four-page letter, a strongly worded missive unlike any other written by an Indian Chief Minister advocating for this cause. Despite enduring various stages of struggle, including protests, demonstrations, and hunger strikes, it is disheartening that this demand remains unfulfilled. However, we have heeded the counsel to remain patient and restrained, trusting that He will uplift us in the right way and at the right time. I believe that the day when this demand is finally met is drawing near. Furthermore, you have requested a simplified process for obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the District Collector to construct, expand, or renovate the infrastructure of independent churches on your own land. I will certainly bring this matter to the attention of the Honorable Chief Minister and endeavor to secure an order mandating that the NOC be issued within a specific, expedited timeframe. Finally, there has been a long-standing request for dedicated burial grounds for independent churches across all districts of Tamil Nadu; I well remember this. There are ongoing debates regarding the feasibility of constructing multi-story buildings for this purpose. Since government-owned land is scarce, we are observing the opposition that arises when attempting to acquire private land for such projects. Therefore, I will certainly urge District Collectors across every district to convene meetings inviting representatives from all denominations, including our own Independent Church to identify available land and immediately initiate the necessary arrangements.”
He read out the next set of demands:
- Police officials must immediately grant permission for the evangelistic meetings and gospel gatherings conducted by the church in your areas;
- Allow the continued functioning of the Welfare Board for Christian Evangelists and Church Workers,
- Allow a monthly stipend of ₹3,000 to be allocated to its registered members
- Give a subsidy of ₹37,000 for holy pilgrimages to Israel.
Recalling his days in the AIADMK, he said, “Speaking of holy pilgrimages, when I rejoined the AIADMK party after a long hiatus, I wrote a letter to ‘Amma’ [Jayalalithaa]. I expressed my happiness that she was participating in Iftar events and suggested that she should similarly host a Christmas celebration. I reminded her of how, when the ‘People’s Leader’ [MGR] first started the party, he had organized a magnificent Christmas celebration at Madras Christian College; I requested her to host a similar event. I offered three suggestions: she could host it at her own residence or visit a home for destitute children to conduct the celebration there. She chose to host it at her residence. We arranged for carols, a prayer led by a priest, and hymns. Her Personal Assistant (PA) insisted that the event should not exceed 20 minutes. However, I insisted that the program should continue for as long as ‘Amma’ wished to stay; ultimately, she sat through the event for a full hour. They listened to everything that was said. At that time, I made a request: just as the Central and State governments provide assistance to Hajj pilgrims for their holy journey, I asked that a similar scheme be introduced for others. He took down all the details regarding this. You surely remember the Christmas celebration held right after the government assumed office – an event at the Light Auditorium where the Bishop and ‘Amma’ shared cake. I still vividly cherish the moment she announced that 500 people would be given ₹20,000 each to undertake a holy pilgrimage. At that time, the MLAs and officials in charge were very helpful. You have mentioned that the amount should be increased further in subsequent periods; I am duty-bound to bring to the attention of the Government—and specifically the Honorable Chief Minister—the request that raising it to one lakh rupees would place it within a comfortable range.
The Seerani Arangam at Chennai’s Marina Beach is currently closed. I consider the request to renovate and rebuild it so that Christian gospel meetings can be held there again to be a valid one.”
He continued, “In the past, whether it was a public meeting of the Dravidian movement or the national movement, a gathering at Seerani Arangam held a special significance. I have personally witnessed the overflowing crowds when gospel meetings were held there, with people coming from abroad to conduct them. I will certainly bring this matter to the Honorable Chief Minister’s attention. You have also raised another request regarding Good Friday – you know which shops I am referring to, don’t you? that liquor shops should remain closed on Good Friday. I recall that this was strongly urged during the previous administration, with a formal letter submitted regarding it. Regarding the Honorable Mr. Leo Nelson of the Tamil Nadu Christian Churches Federation – he is no ordinary person; he knows exactly where to place every dot and how to draw the kolam perfectly. I am deeply committed to ensuring your safety, seeing that you face no issues, and ensuring that these tasks are expedited through him.”
He highlighted, “I reiterate this. Our Chief Minister is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and restoring the rights of our minority communities. You must bear this in mind: although this government was elected by the majority, there are abundant signs demonstrating its genuine concern for the minority population. I urge you to make the best use of this opportunity. The care we show for our brethren – matching the dedication we show toward our own progress will certainly be recorded in history.”
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