Rally to demand reservation for Dalit Christians and Muslims

(March 16, 2010) A big rally was held Monday morning in the Indian capital of New Delhi, to demand reservation for Dalit Christians and Muslims. More than 15.000 people participated in the rally, jointly organised by the National Council of Dalit Christians and All India Pasmantha Muslim Mahaj. Speakers at the rally included top MPs, many Muslim and Christian leaders and Bishop Anthony Samy Neethinathan of Chinglepet, Tamilnadu State. In the past, the bishop had been arrested for defending the rights of Dalits, who live at the bottom of India’s social hierarchy, and are forced to do the most menial work.
There were several demands put forth by the speakers to the government. Among them a demand to implement the recommendations of Justice Ranganatha Misra Commission Report concerning Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin, and to give Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. Another demand was to bring the Bill in the present session of the Parliament for SC (Scheduled Caste) status to all Dalits irrespective of religion. The Commission also recommended the deletion of para 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950, as it is against the spirit of secularism, which the Constitution of India upholds. The members of the National Council of Dalit Christians and All India Pasmantha Muslim Mahaj, actively took part in the rally by raising slogans and carrying banners.