Muslims, Christians demand SC status for Dalits

Muslim and Christian bodies came on a common platform on Thursday in support of their demand for according Scheduled Caste status to Dalits in their communities and castigated the Union government for turning a blind eye to the issue.

Talking to mediapersons, president of All India United Muslim Morcha Dr M Ejaj Ali said that Muslims and Christians will jointly organise 'adhikar conference' (rights conference) in Patna on July 1 to press the Centre for acceptance of the recommendations of the Sacchar Committee and Ranganathan Committee related to granting scheduled caste status to Dalits of both the communities.

"The UPA government accepted almost all recommendations of the Sachchar committee on May 18 last, but it deferred the decision on according SC status to Muslims Dalits till the receipt of the Ranganathan Committee report, which studied the condition of religious and linguistic minorities in the country," he lamented.

"It appears that the intention of the UPA government on the issue is not fair," Ali said, adding the Centre was mysteriously keeping mum even after the receipt of Rangathan Commission on May 21 last, which had also recommended according SC status to Dalits in Muslims and Christians.

Rajendra Kamal, a Christian leader and president of Bihar unit of INSAF, who was also present on the occasion, urged the Central government to take a fresh decision on the issue and accept their long standing demand by ordinance or through a bill in the coming Parliamentary session.