SC status for Dalit Christians demanded

--Justice to Dalit Christians delayed: Odisha Minority Forum

BHUBANESWAR: Demanding SC status, members of Odisha Dalit Christians in a Press Meet here on Wednesday rued over the delaying process of the Central Government for implementing the recommendation of Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission appointed by the Government of India in 2007 to examine the demand of the minorities.   

National Council of Dalit Christians of Odisha chapter demanded SC status for Dalit Christians, which is the constitutional right of the dalits and also recommended by the Ranganath Mishra Commission. All most all the political parties along with a good number of Indian National Congress leaders have expressed their support to their demand in public as well as through their letters to the Prime Minister of India. International Organisations, like United Nations, are supporting to their demands, since it is a serious violation of human rights. But why Government is not implementing the recommendation for the status to the Dalit Christians, questioned the body.

“What the recommendation was given by Ranganath Mishra Commission in 2007, that is now delayed and the process is lingering. We the Dalit Christian bodies demanding for the immediate implementation of the recommendation, otherwise the process will be delayed again. On the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a decision was taken to implement the recommendation, but the process, which is going on, it may take another twenty year to see the light of the day,” said president of Odisha Minority Forum Dr Swarupananda Patra to The Pioneer.

The body also informed that for extending the Schedule Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, a five days dharna is to be organised from December 10, Human Rights Day, to December 14 and a mammoth march to the Assembly on December 15, where prominent social, political, religious and community leaders will be participating to extend solidarity to the mass movement.

Among others, working president of National Council of Dalit Christians, Odisha chapter Thomas Michael, State Chairman of CBCI Committee for SC, ST and BC Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak, Regional secretary Bijay Kumar Nayak, Secretary of National Council of Dalit Christians Jugal Ranjit, eminent human rights activist Bijayananda Singh and Parish President Peter Mallick were present in the Press Meet.