Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Aug 10: The Social and Media Committee of Mangaluru Diocesan Pastoral Parishad held a demonstration in front of DC office on Thursday, August 10 demanding amendment of constitutional Order 1950(Scheduled Caste) in order to include Dalit Christians also in the Scheduled Caste category.
Office for the SC/BC at the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) observes August 10 as 'Black day' to protest against the unjust constitutional order 1950 which excludes Dalit Christians from the SC list on the basis of religion.
It can be recalled that the constructional order 1950 was amended in 1956 to include the Sikhs and in 1990 to include the Buddhists.
Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu the vicar general of the diocese of Mangaluru in his message urged the government of India to take up the issue as early as possible and do justice to the people that have been deprived of their rights for the last seven decades.
Dr Vincent Alva, the principal of Milagres College Kallianpur said, “If there is yes for them, why not for us? This is the question asked today all over India on behalf of Dalit Christians regarding their exclusion from SC list and for that reason August 10 is observed 'Black Day' . The then president of India Dr Babu Rajendra
Prasad signed the constitution order 1950 which excluded the Dalit Christians from the SC list on the basis of their faith. The SC facilities are extended to the Sikh and Buddhist communities, but the Christians and Muslims are kept away from this privilege. This is not the justice."
MP Noronha, secretary of pastoral parishad said, "The Dalit Christians are eligible to get all the facilities which are given to the Dalits who converted as Sikhs and Buddhists. But they are kept aside from benefits in the name of faith. And the government is doing this. It is not fair as per the social justice. It amounts to crushing of the rights of people. It is a type of legal oppression. Yes, they belong to a religion. But as per social classification they are Dalits. And accordingly they have their own rights to get the facilities of SC people,”
“As per Article 341 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India can include people from any caste, race and tribe to the list. One should remember that religion is not caste, race and tribe. Only Scheduled Tribe category does not have caste. But SC category has caste. The lawmakers need to keep these points in mind and should provide justice to the deprived. Christians , Muslims, Parsis and Jains are excluded presently from this list. Justice has to be given to these people as these people are also Indian citizens. They talk about uniform civil code. Why no uniform law among Dalits? Why discrimination here? When you cannot give justice to the suppressed people, how you will give it to all citizens?” he questioned.
After the demonstration, a memorandum was submitted to the DC office to be forwarded to the President and Prime Minister of India.
Fr Onil D Souza, the convener of Social and Media Committee of the Diocesan Pastoral Parishad, gave brief introduction on the purpose of organizing the demonstration and welcomed the dignitaries and the assembled people.
Fr Peter Gonsalves the assistant director of St Antony Institutes Jeppu compered the programme.