National Christian Council www.nationalcouncil.in Update October 2013 Email: [email protected]

Dear NCC Leaders and Friends,

NCC wrote and appreciated the Members of the Parliament that raised the issue of inclusion of Christians in the Scheduled Castes list They raised this issue in the Monsoon sesssion of the Parliament in 2013. Our communication to them is here: www.nationalcouncil.in/office/mprajendran.pdf www.nationalcouncil.in/office/mpowaisi.pdf www.nationalcouncil.in/office/mprathin.pdf

Their synopsis is given below for your info, records and to see the need for this in their own words. Even by the definitions of the United Nations on discrimination, Indian govt. is discriminating against the adopting Christianity and Islam. Irrespective of the religion they follow they are economically disadvanteged. They are born into those disadvantages historically committed on their generations for centruries. Why discimination of the Indian Govt by offering benefits to those that follow some religions and not giving them to some that follow other religions? Article 341 of our Constitution needs to be amended de-linking religion. Please pray and mobilize prayers that we will see this happen soon.

In the Monsoon session of the Parliament the following MPs raised the issue of the Dalit Christians’ Scheduled Caste status in the Parliament:

DEMAND FOR INCLUSION OF DALIT CHRISTIANS IN SCHEDULED CASTES CATEGORY 20.08.2013 MATTERS UNDER RULE 377 – LAID (- INDIAN PARLIAMENT)

Re: Need to include Dalit Christians in the list of Scheduled Castes

SHRI C. RAJENDRAN AIADMK (CHENNAI SOUTH): The issue of inclusion of Dalit Christians in the list of ‘Scheduled Castes' is being raised by the Dalit Christian groups for a long time. However, the definition of SC in Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 is restricting the Dalit Christians and they have been unfairly excluded from welfare measures, like reservation in educational institutions and employment in public services.

The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice Ranganath Misra said that caste is a social phenomenon, shared by all the Indian communities, irrespective of their religion, and concluded that any religion-based discrimination in selecting particular castes for affirmative action will conflict with the Constitution.

Hence, I request that the said Order may be amended so as to treat dalit Christians on par with the other Scheduled Castes and they should be included in the list of Scheduled Castes annexed to the Constitution (SC) Order, 1950. 26. 08. 2013 Rajya Sabha, (Upper House): SHRI T. RATHINAVEL AIADMK (TAMIL NADU): There is a long pending demand of Dalit Christians for their inclusion in the list of Scheduled Castes. Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has written to the Prime Minister that as a result of their exclusion from the list of Scheduled Castes, Dalit Christians remained outside the purview of all Centrally-assisted welfare and ameliorative measures. Most importantly, they were excluded from the benefit of reservation in educational institutions and employment in public services meant for Scheduled Castes. Social tensions over the status of unbalanced growth between Hindu Scheduled Castes and Christian converts have worsened with the passage of time. The sense of alienation among the minority communities has further deepened. After extensive study, Ranganath Misra Report submitted in May, 2007 eminently justified and insistently recommended SC status to Dalit Christians. Subsequently, the Government referred the matter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which also recommended the same. Further, the National Commission for Minorities also recommended it. But no action has been taken by the Government so far. This issue was taken up by our hon. Chief Minister in November 1995 as well with the then Prime Minister, Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao. In 2005 the Union Government told the Supreme Court that it would take a decision based on the Ranganath Misra's recommendation. Then on 23.01.2008 the government informed the court that it would take a decision and file a reply in eight weeks' time. But unfortunately, no decision has been taken so far. Therefore, I appeal to the Government to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 so as to include Dalit Christians in the list of Scheduled Castes and render justice to them. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: All Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) LOK SABHA

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) Saturday, August 24, 2013

SUBMISSIONS BY MEMBERS: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Under Article 341 of our Constitution, the hon. President has been empowered to provide status of Scheduled Castes to those people who are in the lower strata of our society and they are called Dalits. Using these powers, the hon. President by an Order of 1950 restricted the status only to those who profess Hinduism as their religion. My question to the Government is when Muslims are entitled to OBC quota, when Muslims can avail reservation under Scheduled Tribe, why is it that Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians cannot be given the status of Dalits? The percentage of Dalit Muslim population among the whole Indian population is only 0.80 per cent. They are backward educationally and socially. Justice has to be done to them. The National Commission for Minorities has recommended for the outright removal of the provision of the 1950 Order which confines the SC status to three specific religions. For four years the matter is lying with the Supreme Court. This Government has not even filed a reply in the Supreme Court as to what is its opinion. The population of Dalits in coastal Andhra is nearly 20 per cent. They are practicing Christianity. Why do you not give them the dalit status. So, my request to this Government is, at least, to file a reply to the Supreme Court. The Government have conveniently forgotten about the Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians. It is against equality before law. It is against freedom of religion. It is against Article 15 and 16. It is unconstitutional and discriminatory. This particular Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 para 3(41) is based on religion only. Why are you discriminating against Islam and Christianity? Pluralism is the ethos of our country. Secularism is inscribed in the Preamble of the Constitution. For God’s sake, rise up to the Preamble of the Constitution, rise up to your constitutional duty.

October 2013