Advocacy for Justice to Dalit Christians and Muslims

NEW DELHI, May 24, 2010, 17:10 Hrs (CBCI News):

As part of political activism for the cause of justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, an intense lobbying at the New Delhi circles has been continuing, with several delegations impressing upon the political leaders in granting Scheduled caste status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin.

On the 21st May, when the nation observes it as ‘Anti Terrorism Day,’ in commemoration of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Mr. Rahul Gandhi, gave an audience to the delegation of Dalit Christian & Dalit Muslim activists under the auspices of National Council of Dalit Christians. The delegation paid tributes to Late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, remembering his efforts to the cause of Dalit emancipation, particularly for bringing in the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989. It briefed Mr. Gandhi about the injustices done to Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims due to the discriminatory paragraph 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Caste order 1950. Mr. Gandhi expressed his surprise that Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin are excluded from the benefits of affirmative actions such as contesting for elections from Panchayats to Parliament, when the Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists of Dalit origin are the beneficiaries of it.

Mr. Gandhi was patient to the concerns and issues raised by the delegation, and expressed his desire in supporting this genuine cause for justice, by following up the matter accordingly. The delegation submitted a memorandum, seeking Mr. Gandhi’s intervention in impressing upon the present UPA Government to act swiftly in taking an urgent action on the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities report (Ranganath Misra Commission report), particularly to the Additional Term of Reference, and to give an appropriate answer to the query of the Supreme Court to the Writ Petitions demanding deletion of the unjust paragraph 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950 and to extend Scheduled Caste status to Muslims and Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin.

The delegation, which included Fr. AXJ Bosco & Mr. Franklin Ceasar from National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), Mr. Aariz Mohammed from Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Fr. Dr. Cosmon Arokiaraj, Rev. Raj Bharath Patta & Mr. S. Raju from National Co-ordination Committee for Dalit Christians (NCCDC) expressed their hope that the Union Government of India would act promptly and render justice to this long pending struggle of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.

Earlier in this month, other delegations met several ministers as part of lobbying for the cause of justice to Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim struggles. The Ministers have expressed their support in ensuring Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. This journey for justice has treaded a long path over the years, and the ushering of new hope is awaited.