PRESS STATEMENT FROM CBCI AND SC/ST/BC
LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM SC/ST/BC
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Catholic Bishops Conference of India
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National Council of Churches in India
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United Christian Forum for Human Rights
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CBCI Centre, 1, Ashok Place, Gole Dakkhana, New
Delhi 110001 Ph: 334 4695, 334 4470
Chairman : Archbishop Alan de Lastic Co-Chairman: Dr K Rajaratnam
Coordinators: Bishop Karam Masih , Archbishop Vincent Concessao Convenor:
John Dayal
CHRISTIAN LEADERS MEET VAJPAYEE
Church tells government to restore Dalit Christian Rights
Christians seek right to adopt children
Nuns demand security, Vajpayee told of threats in Gujarat etc
NEW DELHI, December 6, 1999
National leaders of the Christian community met the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee at his residence tonight and called on the government to take urgent steps to meet the pressing demands of the small minority community on affecting their legal, social rights and their physical security.
A memorandum presented to the Prime Minister called for restoration of the rights of Dalit Christians, changes in adoption laws to ensure that Christian couples too could legally adopt children, and reforms in marriage, divorce and security laws.
The Christian leaders told the Prime minister that while many of those responsible for violence against the community in the last two years had yet to be brought to book, fresh threats were being received. Referring specially to Gujarat, the spokesmen told the Prime minister that hate literature and campaigns had increased in recent weeks. There was a renewed threat to a church in Gujarat’s Dang district. The delegation urged the prime minister to ensure that the Gujarat government maintained peace and assured the safety of the community and its places of worship in the Christmas season.
The delegation led by Archbishop Alan de Lastic , President, Catholic Bishops Conference of India, and Dr. Rajaratnam, President, National Council of Churches India, consisted of Church of North India Bishop of Delhi Karam Masih , CBCI deputy secretary general Fr. George Pereira , United Christian Forum for Human Rights national convenor John Dayal, Rev. Fr. Lourduswamy, Executive Secretary SC. ST Commission, NCCI Vice president Dr. Oliver , Air Marshal Denzil Keelor , President of New Delhi YMCA, Dr. James Massey, Ex-Member National Commission for Minorities, Mr. John Anchanmani , Treasurer, NCCI . Dr. Dominic Emmanuel , PRO, CBCI, and Sr. Dolores Rego, General Secretary, CRI.
Speaking on behalf of over 70,000 nuns in India, Sr Delores told the Prime minister that the religious sisters loved to serve the people of India, but were feeling a threat to their security. In an emotional voice, she urged the Prime minister to ensure security for religious women.
While focusing on the issue of Dalit Christians, personal laws and security, the Delegation also urged the Prime minister to declare 2000 AD as Yesu Christ Jayanthi Year and to give Christian pilgrims to the Holy land concessions given to Haj and other pilgrimages.
The following are extracts from the Memorandum given to the prime Minister today:
| I. |
Equal Rights to Dalit Christians
: At the dawn of Independence and the adoption of the new Constitution
of the Republic of India, pro-active legislation was enacted to
empower the Dalits who had suffered from three millennia of subjugation
and discrimination. This laudatory Constitutional provision was
however communalized when through a Presidential order in 1950,
the rights and privileges were limited only to Hindus. Later, it
was amended twice to include the Sikhs and Buddhists through sustained
struggle, won for themselves all privileges and rights given to
Dalit Hindus. The Dalit Christians however are being still denied
these privileges accorded to other citizens of their status in the
Indian society. This discrimination violates all norms of natural
justice and is against the avowed principle of secular India. Successive
governments gave assurance but failed to fulfill it. The Father
of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and the architect of the Constitution,
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, have unequivocally stated that a change in
religion does not bring about any change in the social status of
the former untouchable convert. They continue to suffer from the
same social, economic and educational infirmities. In fact the situation
worsens for them as they are denied all facilities in many areas
which are given to their kin. Your Government is committed to Social
Justice. Hence we would like you to implement it in restoring the
rights of the Dalit Christians.
All four Bills have been
pending with government for long, and successive ministries have
not brought the Bills before Parliament. The Christian community
is deeply distressed at this apparent lack of concern by the governments
in power. |
| III . | Yesu Christ Jayanthi 2000 :
The government has accepted to release a stamp on the 2000 anniversary
of the birth of Jesus, initiating the celebrations of Yesu Christ
Jayanthi. Mr. Vajpayee had in 1998 assured that the government of
India would join the people in celebrating Yesu Christ Jayanthi 2000.
We hope that as the year 1999 comes to a close, the NDA government
will take suitable steps in keeping with its tradition of joining
in the celebrations of other communities. |
| IV. | Protection of Christian Minorities : Many State governments and Central organisations have been tardy in bringing to book all those who have committed acts of violence against members of our community and those who continue to carry out a virulent hate campaign against the Church and the community. We hope your government will take steps to stop such harassment wherever it occurs and to ensure that the rule of law prevails. |
Released to the Press statement by John Dayal on behalf of the Delegation
Please send your comments: scst@bol.net.in or dalitchristian@hotmail.com
LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER, SHRI ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE FROM SC/ST/BC OFFICE OF NEW DELHI
11th November 1999
Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee
Minister of State for Law & Justice
Shastri Bhawan
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road
New Delhi – 110 001
Sub : Equal Rights to Dalit Christians
Hon’ble Minister,
We, the Christian Community in India express our gratitude to the Government for having extended Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes reservation in the Loksabha and state assemblies for a further period of 10 years from January 26, 2000 and assurance of Hon’ble Minister for law and Justice Shri. Ram Jethimalani to consider the proposal of Shri Eduardo Falairo M.P for extension of reservation to the Scheduled Caste members who had converted to Christianity and Islam. (The Asian Age 29, October 99, Page –3)
The denial of human rights to Dalit Christians is a blatant violation of the provisions of the Constitution, especially of Article 14, 15, 16 & 25 and is also a violation of Article 18 of Universal Declaration on Human Rights Laws by the UNO of which India is a signatory.
The successive Governments have assured to extend reservation to Dalit Christians but have failed to fulfill it. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi have unequivocally stated that a change of religion does not bring about any change in the status of the untouchable convert. All the Backward class Commissions including the Mandal Commission have proved this fact beyond doubt. The Christian community of India is utterly dismayed at the inordinate delay of the Government to render justice despite airing their grievances through Relay Fast, Nationwide closure of Christian Educational Institutions, Mass Rallies, Hunger Strikes and Prayer Meetings throughout the Country.
We pin our hope in your commitment to social justice (Samajik Nyaya) and social harmony (Samajik Samarasta) and we earnestly request you to make use of your good office to extend Scheduled Caste rights to the Christians of Scheduled Caste origin.
Thanking,
Yours sincerely,
(FR. S. LOURDUSWAMY)
Executive Secretary, CBCI FOR SC/ST/BC, scst@bol.net.in
Please send your comments: scst@bol.net.in or dalitchristian@hotmail.com