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At
a meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Dalit Christians (NCCDC)
held on 28th May 2007 in Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Rev. Dr.
Enos Das Pradhan, the General Secretary of The
core group of the National Coordination Committee for Dalit Christians
was deliberating on the implications of the recommendations of the
National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) and
noted with a great sense of vindication the suggestion to wholly delete
para 3rd of the Constitution (Schedule Caste) order 1950,by appropriate
action to completely de-link the Scheduled Caste status from religion
and make the Scheduled Caste net religion-neutral as in the case of the
Scheduled Tribes. The
NCCDC also urged all the affiliates of the NCCI and CBCI, particularly
the Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the country to
publicly react and appreciate the recommendations of NCRLM strongly
favoring restoration of equal rights to Dalit Christians to pre-1950
status, to practice and profess religion of choice as per the
Constitutional guarantees on freedom of conscience and religious freedom
granted under the universal fundamental rights to all the Indian
citizens. The
NCCDC was of the view that the UPA govt. at the centre may come under
pressure generated by the BJP and its allies as RSS, VHP and others who
have condemned the NCRLM report as appeasement of minorities and may
defer the required legislative action to make the NCRLM
recommendations as law. Under the circumstances, it was inoperative for
all secular forces in the country, including Churches and Christian
Institutions to strongly support the recommendations of NCRLM and demand
the UPA Govt. to pass the required legislation to grant equal rights to
Dalit Christians. The
NCCDC also discussed the follow-up of the proposal emerged at the
meeting of Parliamentarians with Church leaders on 3rd May 2007 to
organize a National Rally in Delhi in June 2007 by Church leaders to
submit a memorandum to the govt. to grant equal rights to Dalit
Christians. The NCCDC has therefore urged the CBCI and NCCI to jointly
organize the proposed Rally by deliberating the matter in respective
policy making structures. The fourth coming monsoon session of the
Parliament is critical for enacting a bill to meet the demand
of Dalit Christians for equal rights. Political support needs to
be mobilized by convincing the political leadership of the issues
of Dalit Christians. Coming together of Church Leaders in On
behalf of National Coordinating Committee for Dalit Christians. Philip Jadhav Coordinator NCCI
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