‘Justice delayed is justice denied’: Delhi Archbishop
August 11, 2012: “Justice delayed is justice denied, we can no longer wait,” said
Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi, who led some 200 people in front of the Sacred
Heart Cathedral Church, in the Indian capital to observe ‘black day” on Friday. Christians
in India observed “black day” on Friday to protest denial of equal rights to their
dalit brethren. The protesters carried black flags as they demanded statutory benefits
to dalit Christians and Muslims. The protest took place ten day after Christians
and Mulims rallied in New Delhi on the issue. Alwan Masih, general secretary of
the Protestant Church of North India, said all are equal under the Indian Constitution
and “if the nation is to develop, all communities will have to progress.” He said
that he is hopeful that justice would be done for dalit Christians. A Sanskrit
word, dalit literally means “trampled upon.” The Indian Constitution allows quotas
in educational institutions and government jobs for dalit members of castes once considered
“untouchable,” to help them advance socially and economically. However, Christians
and Muslims are excluded from these benefits on the ground that their religions reject
casteism. Sister Ann Moyalan, coordinator of the Justice Peace Commission in Delhi
archdiocese said, “We still have a long way to go as many Christians are ignorant
about the protest and have to be made aware.” The day was observed across India
with people protesting in front of the central government offices and post offices. The
protest was jointly organised by the National Council of Churches in India, Catholic
Bishops Conference of India and National Council of Dalit Christians.