Christians protest equal rights for Dalit Christians, get arrested

Christians and church leaders came out in large numbers in New Delhi demanding Scheduled Castes (SC) status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims were lathi charged, attacked with water cannons in cold weather; and were arrested yesterday when they held a National protest, which was also joined by many Muslims.

The protesters were demanding the government to strike down the Presidential (SC) order of 1950 which denies equal rights to Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin, according to a statement released by Delhi Catholic Archdiocese.

Earlier, in 2007, the Ranganath Misra Commission has recommended granting SC status to minority Dalits - Christians and Muslims.

The protest was jointly organised by Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), and Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI).

It was well attended by Christians from various traditions, well wishers and sympathizers of the movement.

Muslim NGOs and other religious leaders, besides prominent Indians and a wide spectrum of politicians also joined hands in demanding Scheduled Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.

At around 1:00 p.m., the protesters who were marching towards the parliament were arrested and were taken to Parliament street police station.

Among the arrested were Church of North India (CNI)'s General Secretary Alwan Masih, Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI)'s Reverend Vijayesh Lal and National Council of Chuches of India (NCCI)'s General Secretary Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad.

Those arrested also included Dr. John Dayal, National Integration Council Member, Delhi Minorities Commission member AC Michael and Mary John and Member of Parliament Anwar Ali.

Police lathi-charged the protesters, used water cannons loaded with dirty water on the peaceful protesters to the dismay of Christian leaders. Bishops, priests, nuns and laypeople were subject to this inhuman treatment.

After the intervention of Christian leaders, those who courted arrest were released at around 5:00 p.m.

Christians have been demanding Schedule Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims which has been denied to the Dalits since the promulgation of the 1950 Presidential Order, Par 3. According to this order, Dalits who have embraced new religion lose their Schedule Caste (SC) status.

On 23rd January 2008, the Supreme Court directed the government to file its response, but the government has so far not file its response.

"The law itself is unconstitutional and while the government after government have been turning a deaf ear to the demand of Christians, now they are going to the extent of brutally beating up our priests and nuns and now arresting us too," Archbishop Anil J T Couto said.