by Nirmala Carvalho

The 1950 law which upholds the Hindu "untouchables" does not apply if they change religion and become Christians or Muslims, in spite of the legal opinions expressed by various committees. An interview with the Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Dalits and tribals.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Dalits continue to be discriminated against, including if they convert to a faith other than Hinduism. And the central authorities appear to be against the inclusion of Indian Christians and Muslims Dalits in the list of "Scheduled Castes", a list that allows those who are included to defend their rights more easily. This position is firmly opposed by the Catholic Church. "We must take note of the attitude of the incumbent government," Fr G. Cosmon Arokiaraj tells AsiaNews, secretary of the Episcopal Commission which deals with "Scheduled castes, tribals and backward social groups.

"From 2007 onwards we have obtained the letters of major political parties except BJP, and the prominent Dalit leaders Kumari Mayawati, Mr. Ramvilas Paswan and sent it to the government. The booklet “Let Justice be done to all Dalits” contains all these letters" says Fr Arokiarai. "Meanwhile, the Ranganath Misra Commission has recommended, and a study by the University of Delhi has made it clear that the paragraph No. 3 of 1950 Act on Establishment of Scheduled Castes by appropriate means."

The Church continues Fr. Arakiaroi, has a clear position: "We want the honest Prime Minister and his government to give an answer to the Supreme Court." The Supreme Court in a ruling did not include Dalit Christians and Muslims in the list of schduled castes. "The National Commission for Minorities has already given an answer on this, saying that Dalit Christians and Muslims should be included in the list. And the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has expressed the same view in April 2010”.

Discrimination, says Fr. Arakiaroi, is not something connected with faith: "The backwardness caused by historical discrimination and its consequential disadvantages are the reasons for reservation, the Constitution mandates that all backward classes of citizens, who are the victims of the continuing ill effects of prior discrimination, whatever be their faith or religion, or whether or not they profess any religion, receive the same benefits. The government must delete paragraph 3 of the 1950 Castes Act. If it does, it is no different from the Hindu religious-nationalist forces".

• India
• dalit
• muslim
• Christian
• hindu
• discrimination
• caste
• act
• government
• church