The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) has finally presented its long–delayed report to India's government, backing the demand for extending reservation benefits to Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam.
The Commission had begun its work in March 2005 and its mandate was to suggest criteria for identifying socially and educationally backward classes among the minorities and recommend possible welfare measures, including reservation in educational institutions and government employment.
In its report, May 21, the Commission headed by ex–Supreme Court judge, Justice Ranganath Mishra, has said that a clause in Presidential Order (Scheduled Castes) of 1950, which restricts the availability of reservation benefits to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, should be dropped to delink Scheduled Caste (SC) status from religion.
The sensitive report, however, has met with a strong dissenting note from the panel's member secretary, Asha Das, who has argued that extending SC status to Christians and Muslims would amount to inserting caste in religions that do not recognize it.
For the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, already reeling from quota controversies, the report could ignite further controversy and have political ramifications.
For decades, there were strong demands from Muslim and Christian rights groups for treatment of Dalit converts as SCs to entitle them to benefits of reservation in jobs and education. Earlier, the Sachar panel, which was asked to go look into the socio–economical status of Muslims in the society, left the decision for NCRLM.
According to observers, with the Commission coming out with the recommendations, there will be increased demand from Dalit Muslims and Christians to be included in the SC list.
A PIL filed in the Supreme Court demanding affirmative action for Dalit Christians is pending and the government may have to factor in the Commission's report when it crafts its response to the PIL on July 19.
The Mishra Commission report is likely to have a bearing on the Supreme Court judgment, as the Congress Party–led United Progressive Alliance had told the apex court that it would give its reply on the demand of Dalit Christians after the panel submitted its recommendation.
However, in spite of the Commission reporting in favour of the Dalit converts, things will not be easy for the downtrodden and neglected community. For years, the minority community has faced vehement opposition from the saffron brigade (Hindu nationalists) who have argued that it would encourage religious conversions of Hindus since exclusion of Dalit converts from SC list acts as a deterrent.
Some Christian leaders, in fact, are fearing that the Commission's report will inflame the Hindu radicals into stepping up their attacks on Christians.
"The concept of Dalit or Schedule Caste is Hindu community–specific. People had opted out of Hinduism for Christianity or Islam for latter's non–caste based, non–discriminatory societies," Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said.
Society
Minority Commission rules in favour of Dalit Christians, recommends affirmative action
By: Bei Chatlai Beita
Monday, 28 May 2007, 15:22 (IST)
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