Panel favours Dalit Christians "reserved status"

Showering grace on the Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes backed and favored "reserved" status to the Dalit community.

The decision was taken after the commission perused the issue at the injunction of the government.

The opinion of the commission also comes with a warning that the inclusion of Dalit Christians and Muslims in the SC tent should not encroach on the benefits of those accessing reservations.

NCSC chairman Buta Singh confirmed that, the new additions should be outside the 15% quota attributed for SCs.

The decision of the Commission would be a politically fraught decision for the government due to such addition causing danger to the 50% quota already fixed by the Supreme Court, noted a Government official. It was observed that, any attempt to violate the ceiling could run into a judicial wall.

However, the decision of the commission has been strongly criticized by Sangh Parivar members, who fear, granting reservation benefits to Christians and Muslims will remove the deterrent against conversions.

Meanwhile, Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC)appealed to all political parties to ensure justice to Dalit Christians by endorsing the panel report of Dr. Buta singh