"Once they are out of a caste–based society, they cannot revert and seek benefits from the same society, which they have given up. This has been clearly laid down in Constitution and several SC judgments," Prasad contended. The BJP has also criticized Justice Mishra for his "coloured" views and demanded the report to be rejected immediately.
"Justice Mishra had been the Chief Justice of India. The least we had expected was some proficiency in law and constitutional matters from a person of that standing," Prasad said adding, "but this report has provoked us to be reminded that Justice Mishra had also been Congress MP for Rajya Sabha. Hence his report is politically coloured."
However, many Christian leaders have argued that caste–based discriminated penetrates across all religion and has become a part of Indian society irrespective of the individual's religious background.
"Even if Christian and Muslim communities in India were ideally practising social egalitarianism, the talents of a Dalit convertee to these faiths will not get an automatic sudden boost eradicating his historical deprivation enabling him to compete on equal terms with advanced castes," a Christian leader, on conditions of anonymity, said.
Meanwhile, the head of Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz and Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament) MP, Anwar Ali, has seized upon the Commission's report to demand that 1950 Presidential Order barring Muslims and Christians from SC list be revoked immediately to ensure them SC status and benefits.
"Otherwise, Dalit Muslims will launch an agitation," he warned.
"We are one step closer to justice for all Dalits," Dr. Joseph D'Souza, president of the Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) said, adding that action on the report could "drastically change the lives of the Dalit community" and "reverse the decades of religious–based discrimination against the lowest–strata in society."
Reacting to opponents of the Dalit Christians' demand, D'Souza said various studies conducted by the Mishra Commission – made up of leading social scientists, politicians, and academicians – indicated that Dalits continued to suffer caste–based discrimination, irrespective of their religion.
"In particular, Dalit Christians – even after their conversion – suffer social discrimination and remain in the same educational and economic condition as before," he said.
"This is a long–awaited and very welcome development. Sadly caste is still practised everywhere and the disenfranchisement of all Dalits, regardless of religion, must be tackled," he added.
"Furthermore, if the recommendations of the commission are adopted, this will be a significant boost for the religious freedom of Dalits, as they will no longer face unwarranted penalties for adopting Islam or Christianity," D'Souza explained.
Terming the caste system "India's hidden apartheid," D'Souza argued, "Those who perpetrate crimes against Dalits do not first verify if their victims are Dalit Hindus or Dalit Christians. The fact that they are Dalits is enough to abuse and discriminate against them."
"It is our hope that the government does not come up with any more delay tactics at the next hearing," he concluded.
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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