Christmas thoughts on dalit dues

Nothing can explain away the government apathy towards these downtrodden

Immediately after the findings of the Sachar Committee, Union minister for minority affairs A.R. Antulay declared that he not only agreed with the PM to grant a 8220;fair8221; share to the minorities but that he was 8220;for including Dalit Muslims and Christians in the reserved SC/ST category. By just changing their faith, their status, social and economic backwardness and the burden of being downtrodden for centuries does not change overnight.8221;

Another Congress leader Veerappa Moily joined in the chorus. Not to be left behind, especially given the forthcoming elections in UP, Mulayam Singh too is advocating the case of Muslim reservations. With an almost inaudible whisper, he and others are heard uttering the unutterable word 8216;dalit Christians8217;, an otherwise forbidden term in political circles. All this is like manna from heaven for dalit Christians who have been fighting an almost losing battle for several decades to be recognised as dalits.

The Constitution allows neither the government nor indeed the courts to play hide and seek with the fundamental rights of dalit Christians. Yet in 1950, then president Rajendra Prasad, by presidential order, denied granting amenities to the dalits of other religions except Hindus. In 1956, however, reservation privileges were granted to the Sikh dalits by an amendment in the presidential order of 1950 and in 1990 the same was approved for Buddhist dalits. Earlier reservation to tribal Christians was given on the basis of their geographical location and not religion; and while tribals continue to enjoy their rights after converting to Christianity, the 8216;dalits8217; do not.

A PIL filed in 2005 by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation and others, challenging the constitutional validity of 1950 presidential order, is pending in the Supreme Court. In 2005 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh constituted the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities under retired chief justice of India, Justice Ranganath Mishra. The Commission will advise the government on the identification of the socially and economically backward sections among the minorities. It will also suggest the necessary changes in the Constitution. The Commission is expected to submit its report next April.

Vincent M. Concessao, archbishop of Delhi and the president of the National United Christian Forum, in a recent media statement, has registered a strong protest 8220;against government8217;s apathy towards dalit Christians8221;. He observed, 8220;As the feast of Christmas is around, it would be truly a Christmas gift if the government could positively respond to the repeated appeal of dalit Christians for what is their due.8221;