Some 2,000 Christians and Muslims marched through streets of New Delhi on Nov. 18 to pressure the Indian government to grant quota benefits to socially poor Christians and Muslims.

Several leaders who addressed the gathering spoke of realigning political support Christians and Muslims have given to ruling Congress party and its alliances over the years.

The Indian Constitution promulgated in 1950 has granted special benefits to Hindu religion. However, a presidential order in 1955 extended the favor to dalit of Sikh religion. The government through an amendment in granted the same favor to dalit of Buddhist origin.

The government, however, refused to extend the same benefits to Christian and Muslim dalit on the ground that their religions do not recognize casteism.

The rally found such an argument unreasonable since Sikhism and Buddhism have reject caste distinctions.

The Congress party ruled India for more than 50 years since its independence in 1947 and successive governments have promised to undo the clause, a promise yet be materialized.

“It is time Christians and Muslims reconsidered their blind support to the Congress party and its allies,” said Father M. Mary John, chairperson of the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDS) that organized the march.

While addressing the gathering after the march, Father John said the two communities should reconsider their support to the congress party and begin supporting other pro-dalit political parties.

The Sanskrit term dalit meaning oppressed is used to denote people outside the top four castes of India.

While abolishing caste practices, the Indian Constitution allowed special concessions such as quota in government jobs and educational institutions to help dalit people’s socio-economic advancement.

Christian leaders say mere change of religions does not guarantee improvement in people’s social and economic situation. Their decades-long struggles resulted in the federal government appointing a commission to study the issue.

The government appointed the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities for a nationwide study. The study concluded denying dalit Christians Muslims the reservation benefits amounts to “discrimination based on religion,”

But the government has shelved this report forcing millions of poor Christians and Muslims suffer discrimination unjustly, an NCDS press release said.

The leaders also demanded tabling the report of the national commission’s study in parliament and responding appropriately to the Supreme Court on a petition demanding the rights of Christians and Muslims.

Source: UCAN

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