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Balayogi favours reservations for Dalit Christians

Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi has favoured reservations for Dalit Christians under the Scheduled Caste category, saying it was unjust to deny this benefit to one member of a family just because he was following another faith.

Addressing a conference organised by a Christian organisation last night, he, however, urged the people to elect a stable government at the Centre to ensure the passage of constitutional amendment bills, like the one providing for reservation to Dalit Christians.

Referring to the recent incidents of atrocities on minorities, he said they had tarnished the image of the government and the country in the comity of nations. Steps should be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents, he added. Pointing out that Christianity, unlike in Europe, had come to India as early as in the beginning of the Christian era with the arrival of St Thomas, he said Christianity had become an integral part of Indian culture.

He hailed the efforts of the missionaries in the fields of education and health. V Sobhanadewara Rao, the Telugu Desam Party government's representative in New Delhi, assured the minorities that his party would take all steps to protect their interests. Making a veiled attack on the Congress, he said it was the then Congress government which had allowed the Shilanyas at the disputed site in Ayodhya. It had also enacted a legislation to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling on the Shahbano case with an eye on the minority votes, he added.

UNI

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