Dalit Christians cry for ‘justice’ at rally in capital
ICC Note
“It is clear discrimination against Christians, and the government without delay must amend the 1950 Constitution Order which restricted reservation benefits to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.”
By Dibin Samuel
11/19/2009 India (Christian Today India)-Protesting against the partisan politics of the UPA Government, hundreds of Dalit Christians and Muslims cried for ‘justice’ as they rallied in the capital on Wednesday.
Led by Bishops, Dalit activists, lay leaders and prominent politicians, the rally converged at the Jantar Mantar, saw people from different states carrying placards and cutouts demanding the inclusion of Christian Dalits in the Scheduled Caste list which the government has been guaranteeing from the last five decades.
Inaugurating the event, Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concessao, said: “It is clear discrimination against Christians, and the government without delay must amend the 1950 Constitution Order which restricted reservation benefits to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.”
The politicians at the dharna while acknowledging that such rallies in the past have fallen on deaf years, concurred it was high time the government equally treat all religions in India.
“This is not the first time such a rally has been held. We are tired of pleading to the government to extend the reservation even after a powerful commission led by former Chief Justice of India, Justice Ranganath Mishra, gave a go-ahead,” said Mr Ali Anwar, MP, Janatha Dal United.
There are about 20 million Dalit Christians whose socio-economic and educational rights have been dismantled by para 3 of the Presidential Order in 1950. All the political parties except the BJP have supported the deletion of the ‘unjust’ para.
