Rally and Demonstration in New Delhi on 1, August 2012

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Rally and Demonstration in New Delhi on 1, August 2012

Thousands of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims rallied from the Ram Lila Maidan to Jantar Mantar in the heavy downpour, demanding the repealing of the unconstitutional Constitution (Scheduled Caste) order, 1950 and reinstate SC status for Christian and Muslim Dalits. The adverse climate could not alter the determination of these thousands of people who have been struggling for the past sixty years for their constitutional rights.

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 The rally began with the prayers by Mr. Alwan Masih (General Secretary, the Church of North India) and Maulana Rafeeque Alum. The flag was handed over to Mr. Sathar Saheb by Bishop Neethinathan (Chairperson, CBCI office for SC/BC). 1. Most Rev. Vincent Consessao, Archbishop of Delhi, 2. Most Rev. Franco, Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi, 3. Most Rev. Stanislaus Fernandes, SJ, Archbishop of Gandhinagar, 4. Most Rev. Chinnappa, Archbishop of Madras Mylapore, 5. Most Rev. Selvister Ponnumuthan, Bishop of Punalur, 6. Most Rev. Neethinathan, Bishop of Chingleput, 7. Most Rev. Antony Poola, Bishop of Kurnool, 8. Most Rev. Francis Kalist, Bishop of Meerut participated in the Rally and demonstration. Priests, nuns and people from Mostly from Delhi, Punjab, Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala Tamil Nadu and Puducherry participated in the protest.

 The rally took more than an hour to reach Jantar Mantar where the demonstration took place. Most Rev.Vincent Concessao Archbsihop of Delhi inaugurated the Dharna. Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao declared that the discrimination against Dalit Christians and Muslims goes against the Constitution which is secular in nature.He said "We are to not only to promote what is good, we must also oppose what is evil. Discrimination based on religion is an evil we must fight. It is our duty and our responsibility."

 Mr. Ali Anwar Ansari Member of the Parliament(Rajya Sabha) spoke about the political contours of the struggle of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.

 Adv. Franklin Caesar gave details about the case pending in the Supreme Court about this issue. He clearly pointed out that the political parties, especially the Congress-led UPA government, are not willing to take up this issue in a positive way. If the UPA government stops evading this issue and presents an answer to the query from the Supreme Court, this issue will be settled. Mr. D. Raja (Communist Party of India), Mr. Charles Dias M. P., Mr. Danam IAS, Archbishop Chinnappa (Chennai), Bishop Subodh Mondal (Methodist Church in India), Rev. Davidson Daniel (Salvation Army), and many other dignitaries spoke during the Demonstration. A tableau depicting the crucifixion of Dalit Christians by the Indian Government was presented. So also dances, songs, and drum playing were performed.

 Meanwhile various delegations comprising representatives from the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, National Council of Churches India, and the National Council of Dalit Christians, visited the Central ministers of India Mr. A. K. Antony, Mr. Salman Khurshid, Mr. Kapil Sipal and Mr. Mukul Wasnik, and have submitted memorandums and discussed about the issue.

 This rally and demonstration on 1st August 2012 was organized under the leadership Most Rev. Neethinathan Bishop, Chairperson, CBCI office for SC/BC Fr. Devasagayaraj, Secretary, CBCI office for SC/BC, Rev. Sunil Raj Philip, Mr. Samuel Jayakumar (NCCI), and Mr. V. J. George, Prof. Mary John, Adv. Franklin, and Fr. Bosco (NCDC). The joint committee of these forums has decided to intensify the struggle to avail equal rights for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.

 The following resolutions were adopted by the gathering:

Resolution No. 1

 The participants of the Rally express their strong resentment against the negligent attitude and the delay tactics of the Congress and its UPA government in taking action to extend the Scheduled Caste status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin, even after the recommendations of the Justice Ranganath Misra Commision, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and of the National Commission for Minorities and also by most of the Political Parties.

Resolution No. 2

 The Rally and Dharna resolve to protest against the irresponsible behaviour of the UPA government which continues to evade giving an appropriate answer to the Query of the Supreme Court for the past 7 years on the writ petition regarding the Scheduled Caste status for Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin.

Resolution No. 3

 It is resolved to observe 10 August as Black Day (the day when the unjust Presidential Order was promulgated in 1950) and to organize nation-wide protests in all the states against the Congress and its government at the centre for not taking action on the issue.

Resolution No. 4

 It is resolved to take up a nationwide political campaign to expose the stand of the Congress Party against Christian and Muslim Minorities as seen by its unwillingness and the unjust inordinate delay in extending the SC status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste Origin, if it is not done soon as it has promised in the previous elections.

Way Forward:

 The following action plans were also discussed during the evaluation meeting which was held on the following day in the presence of Most Rev. Neethinathan the chairperson for CBCI office for SC/BC.

1. To observe August 10th 2012 as Black Day throughout India and send memorandum to the Honourable Prime Minister and Mrs. Sonia to reply to the Supreme Court immediately.

2. To intensify the lobbying during the monsoon session and meet all the political leaders and members of the Parliament who would support our issue and raise questions in the Parliament to urge the Government to reply to the Supreme Court. Two teams from different states of India will be doing this work in Delhi for two weeks.

3. After consulting with our advocates we will send thousands of letters to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to list our case and demand the Government of India to reply to the Supreme Court.( This will be intimated after consulting with the advocates)

First step of Success:

 Three parties were added in the civil Writ Petition 180/2004. 1. The Union of India, 2. The Nation commission for Minority, which is a statutory body and 3. National Commission for SC/ST. Among these three the National Commission for Minority has brought its reply to the office of the Supreme Court. They have brought a positive reply. Now we demand the other two parties especially the Government of India to bring its reply.

Media:

 Though we took enough measures to get the media for coverage, we got very poor response mostly because of the heavy rain. Some regional newspapers covered the news. We have enough coverage in the internet media. I am sure our Catholic media will do justice in this issue. We will continue to revisit our strategy in this regard.

Thanks:

 I take this opportunity to thank all the Archbishops, Bishops, Regional and diocesan SC/ST commission secretaries, priests, nuns, and people who participated in the rally and demonstration. I also thank all the people who some way or other extended their full cooperation for the success of the Rally and demonstration. Above all I thank the almighty God for his Benevolent Hand in all these events and on the people who travelled from near and far.

To view the pictures of the Rally demanding Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims please see the following link of Picasa.

https://picasaweb.google.com/104764219921142233011/DemonstrationAug1#

Report By
Fr. Z. Devasagayaraj
Executive Secretary,
CBCI Office for SC/BC
CBCI Centre, 1 Ashok Place,
Goledakhana, New Delhi - 110 001
Phone:(011) 2336 2669, 2334 4470
Fax: (011) 2336 4615
Cell +91-11-8802025025