Hundreds of Christians of Dalit origin from all over India organized a sit-in protest on March 28 to renew their demand for reservation for themselves as well as for Muslims.
A press note from the National Council of Dalit Christians expressed regret that although Article 341 of the Indian Constitution guarantees Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin the status of Scheduled Caste, the government, by a Presidential Order in 1950, denied them the constitutional rights.
“They are fighting against this unjust order ever since it was promulgated,” read the note signed by council president V I George, Michael Martin, secretary, and Vijay Mothukuri, treasurer.
The demonstration at the Jantar Mantar, the site earmarked for public protests in downtown New Delhi, was the latest in a series of national and regional protests that Dalit Christians organized.
Sociopolitical leaders, including some members of parliament, addressed the six-hour protest.
The event took place in the backdrop of the federal government submitting a negative response to the Supreme Court on the question of extending reservation to Christians and Muslim of the Dalit origin.
The government has referred the matter to a new commission headed by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan even after several earlier commissions had submitted favorable reports.
The latest protest urged the government to not prolong the matter in the apex court for another two years by putting the burden on future commissions.
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