New Delhi, 12 December 2013: The Delhi police on Wednesday cane-charged and water
cannoned Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, several other bishops, nuns, pastors as they
led a rally in Parliament Street demanding to end the discrimination against dalit
Christians.
Several priests and nuns and lay leaders were injured badly in
the police action. Christian leaders then courted arrest and were taken to parliament
street police station as they mached on defying police orders.
This is the
first time after in1997, that Bishops and Church leaders have been arrested while
protesting for dalit cause.
Among the arrested were Church of North India General
Secretary Alwan Masih, Ecumenical Fellowship of India's Reverend Vijayesh Lal and
National Council of Chuches of India's Roger Gaikwad. Those arrested also included
Mary John, Delhi Minorities Commission Member A C Michael, National Integration Council
Member John Dayal and Member of Parliament Anwar Ali.
The dalit and their leaders
demand the repeal of the 1950 Presidential Order that denied statutory benefits for
dalits of Christian faith.
Indian constitution guarantees reservation of seats
in government jobs and educational institutions for the social benefits of suppressed
classes but Christians and Muslims are denied such benefits on the ground that their
religions do not follow caste system.
The 1950 order originally excluded Sikhs
and Buddhists but they were later included for the benefits. Following protests, the
benefits were extended to Sikhs in 1956 and to the Buddhists in 1990.
The leaders
of Muslims and Christians say the order is unconstitutional as it denies equal rights
and discriminates their people on the basis of faith.
"The law itself is unconstitutional
and while the governments after government have been turning a deaf ear to the demand
of Christians, now they are going to the extent of brutally beating up our priests
and nuns and now arresting us too," said Archbishop Couto.
In the past 63 years
several such peaceful protests were conducted across the nation. "But today the
police badly beat up priests, dressed in their official priestly attire and nuns,
who were peacefully marching from Jantar Mantar towards the Ashok Road circle," said
press release from archdiocese of Delhi. "The lawyers are getting ready to file
a criminal case against the police for their brutal action," it said.Source: UCAN