More Groups Support the demand of Dalit Christians for Scheduled Caste Status
(July 28, 2011) The National United Christian Forum, comprising of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of India, National Council of Churches in India and Evangelical Fellowship
of India, expressed its strong support on Wednesday to the just demand of the Dalit
Christians and Dalit Muslims who are on hunger strike from 25th-28th July, 2011 at
Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. This protest is meant to reiterate the demand for obtaining
Scheduled Caste Status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. Christians and Muslims
of Scheduled Caste Origin, also called Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims have been
asking for equal Constitutional rights on a par with their fellow Dalit brothers and
sisters. This exclusion of people of Scheduled Caste Origin who adhere to religions
other than Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism from their fundamental rights has caused
great concern and has been debated from the very beginning of its promulgation. The
Justice Ranganath Misra Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities under the
UPA government itself has endorsed that the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims should
be included in the Scheduled Caste Status and be given the same benefits as their
counterparts in other religions. Similarly, the National Commission for Scheduled
Castes and National Commission for Minorities have also sent their recommendations
in favour of Christian and Muslim Dalits. The struggle for Dalit Christians and Dalit
Muslims has also received support from several political parties including members
from the Congress Party.