VHP reiterates its opposition to Mishra report

The VHP is reiteratively threatening nationwide agitation if the government implements the report of National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCLRM) that recommends inclusion of Dalit Christians and Muslims in the Scheduled Caste category.

VHP spokesperson Surendra Jain told reporters that if the NCLRM report prepared by former Chief Justice of India Ranganath Mishra is accepted, there would be dissatisfaction and class struggle. He cautioned that it "may also lead to a civil war in the country."

The Ranganath Mishra report was last month tabled in the Lok Sabha for discussion.

The report has defined religious and linguistic minorities as backward classes and recommended 15 percent reservation for all minorities in jobs, education and welfare schemes.

Christians have been from long holding rallies and demonstrations seeking inclusion in SC quota, which the government has been promising from the past five decades.

Para 3 of the Constitution Order 1950 is the major point of contention as it dismantles the socio-economic and educational rights of those Dalits who convert from Hinduism to Christianity or Islam.

The NCLRM report has clearly pointed that such discrimination is uncalled and goes against articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution of India.

Earlier, the BJP threatened to hold anti-Christian meetings in protest of the UPA government's move to extend reservation benefits.

BJP general secretary T C Gehlot said he would hold protests outside Assemblies, conduct seminars, rallies, debates and discussion programmes against the inclusion of Christians and Muslims in SC fold.