A Christian organisation has demanded the Other Backward Class (OBC) status for the community in the state and the formation of a development body for Christians in north Bengal.

The All Christian Minority Organisation (ACMO) also requested the state government to declare Christmas and Good Friday as holidays for tea garden workers in north Bengal.

“The total population of Christians in north Bengal is over six lakh and most of them live in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts in the region. The chief minister has formed several development boards for many other communities in north Bengal, but nothing has been done for Christians. They are yet to be recognised as the OBC,” ACMO chairman Samuel Bag said.

Bag has said many other communities in the region have already got the OBC status though they are numerically less compared to Christians.

“Christians are not entitled to holidays on Christmas and Good Friday in the tea sector, unlike members of other communities who get holidays during their festivals,” added Bag.

Mahua Gope, the Jalpaiguri district president of the Trinamul Congress, said she was not aware of the Christian community’s demands. “I am not aware of their (Christian) demands but I will take them up with the chief minister,” she said.

Bapi Goswami, the Jalpaiguri district president of the BJP, said: “If they (Christians) will inform us about their demands, we will bring them to the notice of the central government.”