Huge Protest Rally By Dalit Christians And Dalit Muslims Demanding Equal Rights

NEW DELHI, MAR. 14, 2008, 17.20 Hrs (CBCI News):

Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims held a huge protest rally at the historic Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, today, March 14.

Many Archbishops and bishops joined the protest. They included CBCI Secretary General Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Madurai Peter Fernando, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore M. Channappa, Archbishop of Hyderabad Mariampudi Joji, Bishop of Hazaribhag Charles Soreng, Bishop of Chinglepet A. Neethinathan, and Bishop of Nellore MD Prakasam.

The National Council of Churches in India was represented by the Church of North India General Secretary Rev. Enos Pradhan along with others.

Former defense minister of India Geroge Fernandes joined the protesters and strongly demanded equal rights to all people of Scheduled Caste origin.

The leaders along with a large group of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims from all over India were protesting the delay in implementing the recommendations of Justice Ranganath Misra Commission for extending Scheduled Caste status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin.

Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are gravely agitated over the delay in extending the SC status to them even after Justice Ranganath Misra led Commission, appointed by the ruling UPA Government itself has strongly recommended it ten months back.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes headed by Dr. Buta Singh has also recommended that Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims should be given SC status.

It must also be noted that while Sikhs and Buddhists of Scheduled Caste origin were granted SC status in 1956 and 1990 respectively, it was by an Ordinary Bill for amendment of Scheduled Caste Order 1950 requiring simple majority only and there was no need for constitution amendment and 2/3rd majority of MPs. The same formality must be adopted in the case of Christians and Muslims of SC origin.

“Political parties such as BSP, CPI, CPI(M), Forward Block, RSP and the UPA Partners like Lok Jan Sakthi, RJD, DMK, MDMK, NCP, PMK and members of NDA like Janata Dal (United), Siromani Akali Dal, Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, TDP, AITC, etc, have openly supported SC status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims,” said the Executive Secretary of CBCI Commission for SC, ST and BC Fr Cosmon Arokiaraj.

“Leaders such as Kumari. Mayawati, Shri. Ram Vilas Paswan, Shri. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Shri. Prakash Karat, Shri. A.B. Bhardhan, Kalaingar M.Karunanidhi, Dr. Y. Rajasekhara Reddy, Dr. J. Jayalalitha, Kumari. Mamta Banerji, Shri.V.P.S ingh have personally written to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh urging early implementation of Ranganath Misra Recommendation,” said president of National Council of Ddalit Christians (NCDC) Pprof. Mmary John.

In fact the election manifesto of the ruling Congress Party also guaranteed the same.

“In this situation we Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims feel betrayed over the inactiveness and lethargy of the Congress Party and UPA government on the issue,” stated the press note issued by the organizers.