Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

NCM’s suggestion

This refers to the suggestion by the National Commission for Minorities to extend reservation to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. It is true that a good number of Dalits convert to Islam. It is also true that their socio-economic status remains the same and most of them continue with their traditional professions. But granting them the status of Scheduled Castes will not bring about any remarkable change to their lifestyle, if it did not do so before they converted to Islam. What the Muslim community as a whole requires is affirmative action that will propel the community into the mainstream. The Sachar Committee report highlights the plight of the entire community. It is not only the converts belonging to the backward sections but the whole community that needs to be helped.

Mohammed Zubair,

Bangalore

It is time to think beyond reservation. Sixty years of reservation have proved that caste-based reservation, although initially successful, has not been fruitful in recent decades. The creamy layer of a caste, which can compete with the mainstream, is garnering all the benefits of reservation and denying the opportunities of the truly deserving. But as long as reservation exists for Dalits, it should not be denied to them on the basis of religion. They cannot be denied their opportunities because they belong to a religion.

Jiji John Thomas,

Thiruvalla

The NCM’s suggestion defeats the very purpose of conversion by Dalits to Islam or Christianity. Leaders of the two religions, who claim there is no caste discrimination in their communities, should protest against the move to extend reservation to Dalits. It is time we moved towards narrowing the gap between castes and religions.

B.N. Gangadhar,

Bangalore

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