Govt's lackadaisical attitude on Dalit Christians continues

The UPA government undoubtedly is dragging its feet in granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Muslims.

Media this week reported that there is a possibility of the Centre appointing a new commission to restudy the Ranganath Mishra panel report which recommended extending reservation to all Dalits without bias of religion and caste.

Currently, the issue is being heard by Supreme Court where Centre has to file an affidavit.

There seems to be tremendous political pressure on Congress to not make a positive move opposing Hindu nationalist parties like BJP.

On Wednesday, Dec. 16, the government ruled out bringing any action taken report (ATR) on the Mishra recommendations which was submitted to the Prime Minister on 21 May 2007.

"There will be no ATR on Ranganath Commission as there is no requirement of it, as of now," Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khursid told reporters.

However, he hinted that the report would be tabled in Parliament in this session itself.

This was last week promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who said he took "note of the sentiments of the members who have raised the demand."

The prime minister agreed to table the report after questions was raised by Samajwadi Party members led by its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

However, media reported that a JD(U) MP who has been lobbying parties for the cause was bluntly told by a senior Congress leader that the report's recommendations were unlikely to be considered.

Future consultations are to be held on this after PM's return from the climate summit at Copenhagen.

Christian groups like the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), meanwhile, are adamant in their demand for justice.

Dr M Mary John, national president of NCDC says most small parties have committed their support to their demand, but the major party Congress is playing delay tactics. BJP from beginning has opposed reservation quota to Dalit Christians and Muslims.

Last month, a massive rally was held demanding the tabling of Mishra report. The Mishra report has clearly stated that non-inclusion of SC Christians and SC Muslims was a discrimination based on religion and goes against the articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution of India.