The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Christians demand quota on par with Muslims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 12, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Christians demand quota on par with Muslims

Staff Reporter

Demand Dalit Christian Bill

HYDERABAD: The State unit of All India Catholic Union (AICU) and Catholic Association of Hyderabad (CAH) appealed to the Government to extend reservation and benefits to Christians on a par with Muslims and to pass the Dalit Christian Bill.

A meeting of Christian leaders to be convened at Pastoral Centre in Gunfoundry on August 15 will discuss various concerns of Christians.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, CAH president Martin Michael and AICU State president James Sylvester said till now no organised effort was made to represent their problems to the Government.The meeting to be addressed by AICU national president John Dayal will represent to the Government to pass the Dalit Christian Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The general secretary of Dalit Christian Front Sleeva Galiea said as per the 1950 Presidential order, a schedule of Dalit castes had been categorised as SC under Hindu religion. The order was amended in 1956 to include Sikhs in 1990, Buddhists too were added. But Dalit Christians had been left out.The Christian leaders also appealed for concessions to visit their Holy land Israel on the lines of concessions extended to Haj pilgrims; a legislation on Protection of Minorities (prevention of atrocities) Act like that of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act; and to allot land for graveyards wherever Government land was available as the community was facing acute shortage of burial space.

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