Conversion Agenda Again

Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) has demanded following as part of their champain during Justice Sunday-2006 on August 20 .

The letter said the Catholic community in India had a responsibility to come forward for the liberation of Dalit Christians. "The community continues to be vociferous against the injustice shown by the Government to Dalit Christians. As a result, the State Government had granted some concessions. But still, reservation rights for jobs and education have not been given," the letter said.

The Dalit Christians would enjoy these rights only if they were included in the Scheduled Community list. "Dalit Christians and Dalits lost their rights only because they embraced Christianity. Though the Central Government in 1996 called for the opinion of the State with regard to granting reservation rights to Dalit Christians, the Government has not responded," the pastoral letter said

This is outrageous demand. The Constitution provided reservations to former untouchables to enable them to overcome historic social disadvantages which kept them economically and educationally backward. Howver, Christianity sought to convert them on the plea that it did not discriminate between believers, and hence low caste believers would loose the social stigma of their original caste. Now to ask reservation under the guise that they are Dalit Christian is Ridiculous.

Any decision to extending reservation benefits to Dalit Christians could deal a death blow to the Indian nation as it would actively encourage conversions. Dalits who were lured to the Christian fold to better their social, economic and educational status should rethink their move and return to their traditional cultural moorings.