Christians to mobilize in capital for Dalit demands

Church leaders along with local Christians in Andhra Pradesh intend to travel to the national capital to demand equal rights for Christian dalits.

"We have come to a stage of now or never. Hence, the need of showing our strength," explained Father Anthoniraj Thumma, secretary of Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC), an ecumenical forum.

Last week, the priest along with 50 other Christian leaders gathered in Hyderabad to discuss the arrangements for the protest in Delhi. At least 10,000 people in five trainloads will participate in the demonstrations.

The travel expenses for each 25–coach train are estimated at 2.5 million rupees.

The parliament gathering for its monsoon session in New Delhi is considered to be one of the reasons for the demonstrations in Delhi.

Father Thumma said his federation has taken the initiative to get a letter of recommendation from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and to Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, which rules the federal government.

APFC president Reverend B.P. Sugandhar, highest official of the Church of South India as its moderator, told the gathering they are fighting for "a just cause and not begging for any favor from the government."

Its executive secretary B. Danam said the national commission and Supreme Court favor the Christian demand. "Decks are cleared for the government to introduce the bill. Since the government is still dilly–dallying, there is need to put political pressure," he urged.

The term Dalit Christian is used to describe those Christians who have converted to Christianity from Hinduism and are categorized as Dalits in Hindu. Such people on conversion lose the privileges they were getting as a backward caste.

Meanwhile, last week, the Tamil Nadu government sent orders to ensure that Christians and Muslims got 3.5% reservation in government services to overcome problems faced by the two communities in availing the benefit.

Although the state government promulgated an ordinance providing reservation for minorities, its members complained that there were practical problems in implementing the law.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi held discussions with senior Cabinet leaders and issued orders for ensuring 3.5% reservation to Christians and Muslims.