SMC observes Black Day Demanding Inclusion of Dalit Christians to Scheduled Caste
Mangaluru: The Social and Media Committee of the Mangalore Diocesan Pastoral Parishad held a demonstration demanding the amendment of Constitutional Order 1950 (Scheduled Caste) in order to include the Dalit Christians in the Scheduled Caste, in front of the DC office here on August 10.
Addressing the gathering the convener of the Social and Media Committee of the Diocesan Pastoral Parishad Fr Onil D’Souza, gave a brief introduction on the purpose of organizing the demonstration and welcomed the gathering. Fr Onil said, “The Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCl) of India, New Delhi office for SC/BC observes August 10th as a ’BLACK DAY to protest against the unjust Constitutional Order 1950 which excludes Dalit Christians from the SC list on the basis of religion. it can be recalled that the Constitutional Order 1950 (Scheduled Caste) was amended in 1956 to include the Sikhs and in 1990 to include the Buddhists.
The principal of St Mary’s Degree College Milagres, Kallianpur Dr Vincent Alva, speaking on the occasion said, “If yes for them, why not for us? is the question asked today all over India on behalf of the Dalit Christians regarding their exclusion from the SC list and that is the reason why August 10th is observed as BLACK DAY. The then President of India, Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad signed the Constitution Order 1950 because of which people coming under SC category are entitled to certain facilities which the SC Christians are deprived of because of their faith. Hence it is our demand that they too are included in this category. The SC facilities are extended to the Sikh and Buddhist communities but Christians and Muslims have been excluded from this privilege. Is it not injustice? Alva questioned.
The Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangalore Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu in his message urged the Government of India to take up the issue as early as possible and do justice to the people who have been deprived of their rights for the last seven decades.
Later a memorandum was submitted to the President and Prime Minister of India through the DC by the demonstrators.
Asst director of St Anthony’s Institutes Jeppu Fr Peter Gonsalves compered the programme.