Reservation for OBCs, why Dalit Christians denied?

In the light of the growing outcry for and against OBC reservations, the nation has been beset by pro and anti reservation agitations. Yet against this scenario no one bats an eyelid at the injustice meted out to a silent multitude, the Dalit Christians, who have been denied their right to reservations by the very system which promotes reservations, yet seeks to exclude this section on the basis of religion.

The moot question to be asked in this secular society is that will the government of the day only wake up and give an ear when a protest gets violent and spills on to the streets?

Dalit Christians today suffer on two counts, one on account of their backward status and the other on account of religion. For them the benefits of independent India have yet to peter down to. Even the Supreme Court has questioned the exclusion of the Christian Dalits from any sort of reservation to which the Government's studied response at delaying justice has been to appoint Commission after Commissions. Justice delayed is justice denied would apply here even to the intent of Government for whom the cause of this section of society means little in the given context.

The historic injustice meted out to Dalit Christians by the Presidential Order of 1950 which denied this community, the status of Dalits – precluding them from their rights, concessions and benefits that Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh Dalits are entitled – has been sought to be revoked during the past over half a century. Though this Order vitiated the letter and spirit of the Sovereign Socialistic Secular Democratic Republican Constitution, no serious attempt by the State, has been made to rectify this blatant discrimination against the Dalit Christians, despite innumerable representations, agitations, pleadings and campaigns. Are we a nation that actively practices discrimination despite being categorically forbidden by the Constitution of India? We may claim our place in the books of history for having contributed to the eventual demise of apartheid, though sadly, it continues to thrive in our very own backyard. The ongoing discrimination towards those that have historically been socially and economically deprived merely because they follow a different religion is a blot on our secular and democratic credentials.

In the face of several Court judgments, State Government recommendations and those made by Commissions, including the Mandal Commission favouring reservations for Dalit Christians, one fails to understand why this injustice has continued on the 19 million Dalit Christians. In fact, in 1997 the Union Law Secretary in a reply to the United Nations Human Rights Commission gave an undertaking that the injustice to Dalit Christians would be rectified by giving them equal scheduled caste privileges, after taking necessary steps in the Parliament of India. The fact that the status quo continues, speaks volumes for the powerful castiest stranglehold of the Indian polity and its controlling vested interests. In secular India with constitutional safeguards, guaranteeing equality and justice for all, one finds the State playing an active role in denying the vast majority of its exploited citizenry, the universally recognized basic freedom of religion. Having come to the end of their tether and having suffered this glaring injustice for over 50 years at the hands of successive governments, on behalf of the Dalit Christians, Mr. Franklin Caesar, a Dalit Christian and member of the All India Christian Council, along with the Centre for Public Interest Litigation filed a PIL in the Hon. Supreme Court in the year 2004. The Apex court in the hearing of the PIL in April 2005 having taken serious cognizance of the issue directed the Union Government to reply by 25 August 2005 as to why Dalit Christians should be discriminated against and not be granted the benefits of reservation but the Government like the earlier Governments has adopted the delay tactic by seeking the opinion of yet another Commission.

In light of the Hon. Supreme Court being seized of the matter we strongly petition the UPA Government to reverse the wrongs of the historical injustice meted out to generations of Dalit Christians. They stand constitutionally deprived of what should rightfully be an equitable platform addressing the needs of all Dalits.

If the Central Government fails to respond to this opportune moment to right the wrongs of this stain on the national conscience, it will only be construed as an indulgence on part of the State, in abetting the reconversion of Dalit Christians to avail of benefits available to other categories of Dalits. Currently, it is common knowledge that Dalit Christians are compelled to denounce their faith, in government documents for fear of missing out on benefits. This will indeed be a shame to the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees equality of status to all devoid of subjective discrimination. The UPA Government stands in a moment of history, where it must not take lightly, the destiny and emancipation of millions of Dalit Christians, who direly depend on it.

by Dr.Abraham Mathai, General Secretary, All India Christian Council (AICC)