Latest news with #DalitChristians
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN CM Stalin submits key demands to PM Modi in brief Delhi meet
CHENNAI: The memorandum of demands submitted by Chief Minister MK Stalin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their brief one-on-one meeting on Saturday in New Delhi included approval for key infrastructure projects, change in the nomenclature of certain castes to remove the implied disrespect in the names, inclusion of Dalit Christians in the list of Scheduled Castes and the safeguarding the interests of Tamil Nadu fishermen. The infrastructure projects in the memorandum included approval for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail Projects in a 50:50 cost-sharing model between the state and the centre, handing over of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Indian Railways to Chennai Metro Rail Limited, widening of NH-32 between Chengalpattu and Tindivanam into eight lanes, expansion of Coimbatore and Madurai airports, and establishment of a new AIIMS in Coimbatore. The release of funds withheld under Samagra Shiksha scheme, for which the state government has recently approached the Supreme Court, was also part of the demands. Importantly, in a demand made by many SC and ST communities for long, the CM appealed to the PM to enact necessary legislation to change the names of all those castes ending with '-n' or '-a', which imply disrespect, and instead end the names with '-r' to ensure dignity. Referring to the frequent arrest of TN fishermen and seizure of their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy, the CM urged the centre to find a permanent solution to the issue. The CM later told the media that he was given five minutes to interact and submit the list of demands to the PM.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stalin meets Modi in New Delhi; places slew of demands for Tamil Nadu's development
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog and presented him a memorandum outlining several demands related to the development of the State. Speaking to media after the meeting, Mr. Stalin said he had requested the Prime Minister to release funds for Samagra Shiksha scheme, approval for the proposed metro rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, expansion of the airports in Coimbatore and Madurai, handing over the operation and maintenance of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Chennai to Chennai Metro Rail Limited, and widening the Chengalpattu-Tindivanam National Highway into a eight-lane road. Further, he demanded the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Coimbatore, changing the nomenclature of some communities in the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, inclusion of Dalit Christians into Scheduled Caste list and immediate release of fishermen from Tamil Nadu apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. He also said he had thanked the Prime Minister for releasing funds for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II Project and expressed hope that Mr. Modi will consider his slew of demands. Mr. Stalin, while responding to a question on criticism from Opposition parties regarding his participation in the NITI Aayog meeting, said: 'Mr. Palaniswami [AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami] had said I am waving a white flag. I don't have any white flag. Only he has a saffron flag.' When asked about his meeting with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister said: 'It was a courtesy visit. Whenever I come to Delhi, I meet them. We also spoke politics,' he added. To a question on alleged financial irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) and sand quarries, Mr. Stalin said: 'It is false propaganda.'
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dalit Christians differ on how to identify themselves in Karnataka survey
As the enumeration work to identify scheduled castes for internal reservation is underway in Karnataka, the identification of Dalit Christians has emerged as a contentious issue. While Dalit right (Holeya) groups are seeking a separate column for Dalit Christians, Dalit left (Madiga) groups believe that they are better off identifying themselves with the Dalit caste, from which they converted, to protect their reservation status. Meanwhile, the Dalit Christian Federation is advising them to be identified by their religion, arguing that it will result in better political representation. With the survey being conducted by the commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das set to cover 101 SCs, its outcome, including the population data, social, economic and educational backwardness, will be the benchmark for the commission to draw the internal reservation within the broader 17% reservation set aside for SCs, which they together (left and right) constitute 18.27% of the total population or about 1.09 crore. Internal reservation is a decades-long demand of Dalit left groups that have accused Dalit right groups of cornering reservation benefits. They want slicing up the reservation among Dalit left and Dalit right besides touchable castes of Bhovi, Korma, Korcha and Lambani. What courts say The courts have ruled that the SC reservation should be based on castes, and since Christianity does not have castes, reservation cannot be applied. In this backdrop, Dalit right groups are urging the commission to include a separate column for Dalit Christians as the Union Government is yet to decide on their reservation. 'The commission should encourage Dalit Christians to identify their religion so that they can be kept outside the SC reservation matrix. The Karnataka Backward Classes Commission led by K. Jayaprakash Hegde has recommended reservation for Dalits in the backward classes reservation matrix,' a source in Chalavadi Mahasabha, which represents Dalit right, said. The Kalaburgi-based Dhamma Deepa Buddha Vihara has also petitioned the commission seeking a religion column in the enumeration. The 2015 Socio, Economic and Educational survey by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes put the total population of Christians at 9.47 lakh, which included many caste-specific Christian groups, such as Brahmin Christians, Kuruba Christians, Holeya Christians, Jalagara Christians, Madiga Christians, Reddy Christians, Vishwakarma Christians, Vokkaliga Christians and Walmiki Christians, among many others. The survey also identified about 12,865 SC population converted to Christianity, and recommended them to be included in Backward Classes Category 1B, which is 'most backward'. Political representation Sources in Dalit left (Madiga) group acknowledge that members of their community have converted to Christianity in big numbers, especially in the backward north Karnataka region. 'Caste inequality, social backwardness, atrocities by upper castes and poverty have driven many to Christianity. However, even after conversion, their social standing has not improved. In the current context, there is a threat of losing reservation benefits if they identify themselves as Christians. We are creating awareness about identifying their caste only during enumeration,' said Basavaraj Kowthal of the Madiga Samudaya Jagruthi Andolana. However, Dalit Christian Federation president D. Manohar Chandra Prasad, who is also a pastor with the Church of South India, said that they are creating awareness among the converted population and encouraging them to identify as Dalit Christians. 'The new recommendation has provided reservation in the backward classes. There is no need to worry about losing reservation status. We do not agree with the population figure cited by the commission for Christianity. Our survey in 2018 showed a population of about 40 lakh, or about 6% of the population of the State. A correct figure would help in seeking suitable political representation.'
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Scheduled Caste government workers' body opposes adding Dalit Christians or Muslims to Scheduled Caste list
An association of Scheduled Caste government employees based out of Rajasthan has now written to the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan-led Commission of Inquiry, expressing fears that any addition to the SC list for 'political reasons' — like that of Dalit Christians and Muslims — would 'dilute our rights and benefits'. The Dr. Ambedkar Anusuchit Jati Adhikari Karmchari Manch (AJAK), based in Jaipur, has written to the Chairperson of the Commission, former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, saying that they 'strongly oppose adding new groups, like Dalit Christians or Muslim, to the SC list'. The organisation, which represents government servants – both serving and retired, requested the Commission for a meeting in this regard, saying that it hoped the Commission would stand with it to protect the interests, rights, and benefits of existing Scheduled Caste communities in the country. It said, 'From time to time, the State governments and Central government have been disrespecting and violating the Constitution of India for their political gains and have been changing the list of Scheduled Castes to serve their political interests.' Shriram Choradiya, President of AJAK, Rajasthan, told The Hindu that such changes to the SC list might lead to 'Manipur-like' situations in parts of the country, adding that the government's 'ulterior motive' is to divide SC people. In the letter, AJAK also referenced the addition of communities to the SC list in Uttarakhand as sub-castes, by the State government, in 2013 and 2014, arguing this is violative of Article 341, which gives only Parliament the power to modify the list. In the letter, AJAK said, 'We fear that adding new groups, like Dalit Christians or Muslims, to the SC list without strict checks will harm our rights and benefits.' Mr. Choradiya added, 'We understand that caste discrimination does not stop even after changing one's religion. But that should not be a cause to keep fiddling with the SC list. If they need to be protected, then let the government come up with a new category like they did for OBCs or even EWS category.' The Justice K.G. Balakrishnan-led Commission was constituted by the Union Social Justice Ministry in October 2022. It was instructed to assess if Christians and Muslims, who have historically belonged to SC communities, could be added to the SC list. Dalit Christians and Muslims have for decades now argued that changing their religion had not put an end to caste discrimination and have been demanding SC status. The Supreme Court has been hearing this issue for over 20 years now. Currently, only communities that practice Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are permitted to be categorised as SC. Initially given two years to submit a report, the Commission's tenure was extended in October 2024. It is now expected to submit its report on the issue by October this year. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has made its position on the issue clear — both to the Commission of Inquiry and to the Supreme Court. Its argument has been that it was justified to exclude Dalit Christians and Muslims from the SC list, alluding to the 'foreign origins' of Islam and Christianity.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court government workers' body opposes adding Dalit Christians or Muslims to Scheduled Caste list
An association of Scheduled Caste government employees based out of Rajasthan has now written to the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan-led Commission of Inquiry, expressing fears that any addition to the SC list for 'political reasons' — like that of Dalit Christians and Muslims — would 'dilute our rights and benefits'. The Dr. Ambedkar Anusuchit Jati Adhikari Karmchari Manch (AJAK), based in Jaipur, has written to the Chairperson of the Commission, former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, saying that they 'strongly oppose adding new groups, like Dalit Christians or Muslim, to the SC list'. The organisation, which represents government servants – both serving and retired, requested the Commission for a meeting in this regard, saying that it hoped the Commission would stand with it to protect the interests, rights, and benefits of existing Scheduled Caste communities in the country. It said, 'From time to time, the State governments and Central government have been disrespecting and violating the Constitution of India for their political gains and have been changing the list of Scheduled Castes to serve their political interests.' Shriram Choradiya, President of AJAK, Rajasthan, told The Hindu that such changes to the SC list might lead to 'Manipur-like' situations in parts of the country, adding that the government's 'ulterior motive' is to divide SC people. In the letter, AJAK also referenced the addition of communities to the SC list in Uttarakhand as sub-castes, by the State government, in 2013 and 2014, arguing this is violative of Article 341, which gives only Parliament the power to modify the list. In the letter, AJAK said, 'We fear that adding new groups, like Dalit Christians or Muslims, to the SC list without strict checks will harm our rights and benefits.' Mr. Choradiya added, 'We understand that caste discrimination does not stop even after changing one's religion. But that should not be a cause to keep fiddling with the SC list. If they need to be protected, then let the government come up with a new category like they did for OBCs or even EWS category.' The Justice K.G. Balakrishnan-led Commission was constituted by the Union Social Justice Ministry in October 2022. It was instructed to assess if Christians and Muslims, who have historically belonged to SC communities, could be added to the SC list. Dalit Christians and Muslims have for decades now argued that changing their religion had not put an end to caste discrimination and have been demanding SC status. The Supreme Court has been hearing this issue for over 20 years now. Currently, only communities that practice Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are permitted to be categorised as SC. Initially given two years to submit a report, the Commission's tenure was extended in October 2024. It is now expected to submit its report on the issue by October this year. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has made its position on the issue clear — both to the Commission of Inquiry and to the Supreme Court. Its argument has been that it was justified to exclude Dalit Christians and Muslims from the SC list, alluding to the 'foreign origins' of Islam and Christianity.
