Christians join Muslims for dalit rights| Cathnews India

Christians join Muslims for dalit rights

Published Date: March 15, 2010

Tags: Church in India, Dalit Christians, Indian muslims

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Bishop Anthonisamy Neethinathan and Muslim leaders at the dalit demonstration in New Delhi.

Christian leaders joined some 500 Muslims today in New Delhi to demand the government grant quotas for their socially and economically poor people.

Some 500 people from 19 Indian states, including farmers, labors and youths shouted slogans demanding the implementation of a government committee that recommended quotas to dalits among Muslim and Christians.

Father Cosmon Arokiaraj, secretary of Indian bishops’ commission for dalit Christians, who joined the rally said Dalit Christians and Muslims are upset by the inordinate delay in implementing the recommendations of Ranganath Misra commission report.

In 2007 National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, popularly known as the Ranganath Misra Commission made its recommendations. The report was tabled in parliament in December 2009.

It said denying quota rights to dalits among Christians and Muslims on the grounds that their religions do not practice the caste system, was unjust.

Christians and Muslims have been jointly conducting rallies pressing the government for the implementation of the measure since 2007, Father Cosmon said.

“Today they (Muslims) organized the rally and we joined,” he said.

“Today [March 15] marks the martyrdom of Muslim warrior Hasan Khan Mewati, “who was champion of Hindu-Muslim Unity.

Khan died while fighting and resisting the army of Muslim invader Babar at Khanwa in 1527.

The rally, organized by two Muslim groups, warned the government that Muslim and Christian youths would be forced to take to the streets if the government continues religious discrimination.

“Our youths are getting restless and I am afraid that if any unwanted incident happens, the government will have to be responsible for that,” Father Arokiaraj told UCA News.

Muslim leader Muhammad Arif Kasmi expressed hope that the recommendation would be discussed in the current session of parliament because “many of our leaders are raising the issue.”

Another leader Janmanan Muhammad asked: “How long the government will fool us? We will fight till death for our right.”

Source: UCAN

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