By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: India is a secular country because our constitution is secular which assures that there would be no discrimination with any citizen of the nation based on religion, gender, caste and creed but unfortunately it is not happening so as for last 60 years reservation benefits for schedule casts were given on the basis of religion, which is against the secular spirit of the nation.
These views were expressed by President of Dalit Muslim Morcha, Advocate Salahuddin Shibu while speaking as the chief guest in Dalit Muslim Dalit Christian Conference at UP Press Club on Tuesday.
He added that prior to 1950 Dalits from all religions were equally receiving reservation benefits but through special presidential order of 1950, this was made to limited to Hindu Dalits.
“This was extended to dalits from Sikh Dalits in year 1956 and to Buddhist Dalits in year 1990 by an amendment in Article 341 by simple majority voice vote in parliament,” he informed.
He added that Former Prime Minister, Narsimha Rao’s Cabinet even decided to restore these rights of Muslim and Christian Dalits and in fact moved a bill in Parliament which was rejected because of procedural lapses. He further added that many committees and also some of the state governments had sent their recommendations for restoring the rights of Muslim and Christian Dalits.
Public Relation Officer (North India) of All India Christian Council Moses Parmar said that in the eyes of Dr. BR Ambedkar who drafted the constitution, all dalits were same no matter from which religion they represent or else he would have worked for separate provisions for Dalits from different religions.
Mufti Irfan Miyan Firangi Mahali, Former Bishop, SR Thomas were also present on the occasion.