BOMBAY: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have protested against the demand for the Brant of reservation benefits to scheduled caste Christians.
Following a directive issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), National Council of Churches of India (NCCI), the AllIndia United Christians Movement for Equal Rights (AIUCMER) and other organizations, all Christian educational institutions in the country remained closed to protest against the continued denial of reservation benefits to scheduled caste Christians.
The “karyavah” of the Bombay unit of the RSS, Mr, Vasant Tambe, said under no circumstances should this demand be conceded by the government.
“The Christian converts cannot have: it both ways, they left or were made to Leave the Hindu fold because of alleged caste oppression. Once haying renounced Hinduism they cannot claim any benefit which is available to Hindus belonging to the backward castes. The grant of reservation to Christians will open a Pandora’s Box, Mr. Tam be said.
Another prominent RSS leader of Bombay, Mr, BAL Desai, said the demand was “totally unjustified,” “Hides have been converted into Christianity by the missionaries by assuring them that Christianity does not believe in Casteism. So how can the church now talk of scheduled caste Christians? The fact is that scheduled caste Christians continue to be misled,” Mr. Desai said, A similar view was expressed by VHP spokesman Gopal Sardesai
However, Mr. Jimmy Martin, executive director of the Catholic Communication Center, pointed out that scheduled castes in other religious minorities like the Sikhs and Buddhists were being given reservation benefits. “Why only scheduled caste Christians are being denied the benefits?” he asked.
A ATUCMER document points out that the founding fathers of the Constitution had favored reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes impassive of the it religious affiliation.
However, the Presidential order Kelowna’s the Constitution (scheduled castes) Order of 1950 denied reservation facilities to the scheduled castes following Sikhism, Buddhism, Christianity ete.
But, subsequently the benefits were extended to scheduled castes among Sikhs and Buddhists, but not to Christians, it is pointed out in the document.
Mr. Sardesai of the VHP said “Sikhs and Buddhists are part of the Hindu family and hence the grant of benefits to the scheduled castes among these two groups is justified.” He alleged that Christian organizations were mounting pressure on the Central government on the eve of elections.
The Sabha has decided to hold a relay fast as Hutatma Chowk on November 24 and a rally at St. Joseph Convent, Hill Road, Bandra (west) the following day.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 24, 1995
