Assist News Service
USA, August 28, 2005: (HPI note: This article appeared on a Christian News Service. The issue is that Hindus Dalits or “Untouchables” who convert to Christianity are then denied the special rights given to Hindu Dalits called “reservations” in India, which is a kind of affirmative action program giving preferential treatment in education and jobs.)
India’s Supreme Court will on August 25, hear a private citizen’s petition challenging the Presidential ordinance of 1950 which took away affirmative action benefits from Dalit Christians. According to the Dalit Freedom Network, the Constitution had earlier allowed for affirmative action benefits for all Dalits. Then an ordinance which took away this fundamental right from Dalit Christians was passed. It was argued that since the Christian faith does not teach or support the caste system, all affirmative action benefits must be withdrawn from Dalit Christians.
The Dalit Freedom Network says that in the past 50 years, Dalit Christians have tried to influence the Indian Parliament to rectify this situation. The Dalit Freedom Network says the Indian Supreme Court has allowed a petition filed by a Dalit Christian lawyer challenging the denial of this fundamental right. The Supreme Court has now sent a notice to the Indian Government asking for a response to this groundbreaking petition. The date for the hearing featuring the Government’s response is August 25, 2005. The Dalit Freedom Network is urging concerned American Christians to write a polite letter to the Prime Minister of India encouraging him to prevail upon the Government of India to take this opportunity to redress the inequality experienced by Dalit Christians.