Andhra Pradesh State Assembly Resolves to Grant Scheduled Caste (SC) Status to Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims

Observing the gravity of genuineness in the struggle for justice of Dalit Christians and analyzing the deep need to address discrimination done against Dalits, the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly,on the 25th August 2009 adopted a resolution urging the Central Government to extend the benefits of Scheduled Castes (SC) to Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin. The Chief Minister of the State Dr. Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy, moved the resolution seeking the Center to amend the Constitution by granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, for they have been facing discrimination like other Dalits. All other political parties in the Assembly, including the Telugu Desam Party, the Praja Rajyam Party, the MIM, and the Communists supported the resolution. The BJP and the Lok Satta party who have two members and one member respectively in the State Assembly objected the resolution.

The sensitivity of the Andhra Pradesh Government towards the struggles of Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin deserve appreciations for such a resolution moved by Dr. Reddy would further pressurize the Central Government to act swiftly and prudently in granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims. The struggle for justice by Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims has been a long battle, though several political parties at the Center expressed their deep concern to the cause. Due to lack of political will in taking a decision, justice has been delayed.

Dr. Reddy is the third Chief Minister in India who have moved a resolution in favour of Dalit Christians struggle for justice in a State Assembly. Prior to him, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav the former Chief Minister of Bihar was the first one to move a resolution in his State Assembly and later it was Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh who moved a similar resolution in his State Assembly regarding Dalit Christians. We welcome the move of the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly, and hope that justice is not too far away for Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims.

These resolutions in the State Assemblies will garnish support for the cause and shall exert pressure on the Central Government to act justly in granting SC status to Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims. On the sidelines of a Public Interest Litigation hearing in the Supreme Court of India seeking justice for Dalit Christians, and in the light of the recent statement of the Minister of Minorities Mr. Salman Khursheed expressing his willingness to grant SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, it is time for us as Churches to intensifying our advocacy and lobbying for this cause.

In the process of our mission as advocacy, the Churches in India are encouraged to exert pressure on their State Governments to move similar resolutions in their States, and also lobby with the local Members of Parliament to amend the Constitution specially the 1950 Presidential Order. The Church leadership in India owns this issue of justice for Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims and are committed to strive to achieve it. Justice is triumphant, truly it is!



26th August 2009