Press Release on Chetawani Rally

Condemning the report of Justice Ranganath Mishra, former BJP national president Sri Bangaru Laxman said that Congress led UPA government is conspiring aganist Dalits by recommending the inclusion of converted Christians and Muslims into the list of Scheduled Castes.

Addressing a huge rally of Dalits from all over the country organised by Anusuchit Jati Arakshan Adhikar Bacho Manch at Raja Garder ground in the national capital, Sri Laxman said the converted Christians and Muslims were already entitled to get a special concessions meant for minorities and also the reservation in the category of OBC and there was no need for including them in the SC list.

"The Congress led UPA government is determined to provide reservation to the converted Christians and Muslims in the quota meant for the Scheduled Castes. This is the height of Vote Bank politics of Congress. If the government accepts the report of Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, the converted Christians and Muslims will be entitled to share the reservation of 15% quota at Central level meant for the Scheduled Castes. Consequently, the Scheduled Castes will be thrown at the back foot in the field of Trade and Industry, Services and Political field as well," Sri Laxman said.

Expressing concern that this may lead to social divide between the converted Christians – Muslims and the Scheduled Castes, the BJP leader Minority Educational institutions receive financial assistance from the government but the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students have been deprived from reservations in admission in these Educational Institutions. "There are three Commissions at the national level for the overall development of the minority communities. Despite these welfare measures for the minorities, the Congress is trying to snatch away the Rights of Scheduled Castes," he alleged.

Sri Bangaru Laxman termed it unfortunate that the parties claims to be pro-SC such as Communists, Bahujan Samaj Party and Lok Janashakti Party were also supporting the inclusion of converted Christians and Muslims in the list of the Scheduled Castes. "The Congress led UPA is not only anti-Scheduled Castes but also dishonouring the Constituion drafted by Dr Ambedkar," he said.

BJP national general secretary Sri Gopinath Munde informed the mammoth gathering that the demand for the converted Christians in the list of Scheduled Castes was firstly raised in the year 1936 which was rejected by the then British government. "During the course of debates in the Constituent Assembly, this demand was also raised. But, all senior leaders including Dr Ambedkar, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patel and C Rajagopala Chari unanimously rejected this demand saying that no reservation can be given to the persons professing any religion other than Hindu as the so called Scheduled Castes had been suffering for centuries from the evils of untouchability and social discrimination," he said.

Sri Munde said that the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes had been consistently rejecting the demand of the converted Christians and Muslims for being included in the list of Scheduled Castes. "Even the Supreme Court by its various judicial pronouncements, has stated that the converted Christians and Muslims cannot be equated with the Scheuduled Castes. Thus the British government, Constituent Assembly, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Supreme Court have been unanimous that the converted Christians and Muslims should not be given the status of the Scheduled Castes," he said.

Anusuchit Jati Arakshan Adhikar Bacho Manch national convener Sri Ramnath Kovid demanded that the Congress led UPA government should desist from including the converted Christians and Muslims in the list of Scheduled Castes. "We warn the Congress led UPA government that in the event of their failure to do so, we will expose the Congress party its allies for its anti-SC policy by launching a people's agitation and the ruling combine would be responsible for consequences thereof," he said.

RSS cheif K S Sudarshan, BJP nationa president Sri Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition Sri LK Advani, VHP international president Sri Ashok Singhal and other religious and social activists sent their message extending fullest support to the movement.

Manch co-convener Dushyant Goutham said that a delegation of the Manch will call on President Her Excellecy Prathibha Patil tomorrow (22 September 2008) and present a memorandum in this regard. Several BJP leaders including former union minister Satyanarayan Jatia, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Vijay Goel, Dr Harsha Vardhan participated in the meeting.

(Shyam Jaju)
Headquarter Incharge