Dalit Christian Forum Demands Repeal of 1950 Presidential Order, Announces Massive Protest in Vijayawada
Dalit Christian Forum Demands Repeal of 1950 Presidential Order, Announces Massive Protest in Vijayawada
Vijayawada, June 3: The All India Dalit Christian Peace Forum has demanded the immediate repeal of the 1950 Presidential Order, alleging that it has caused grave injustice to Dalit Christians in independent India. Alternatively, the forum has called for a revision of the law to grant Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians.
Forum president Dr. Lanka Karunakar Das made the demand while addressing a press conference held at a hotel in Labbipet on Tuesday. He announced that a massive “Atma Gaurava Maha Dharna” (Self-Respect Protest) will be organised on June 4 at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada as part of their struggle for rights. He appealed to Christians in large numbers to participate and make the programme a success.
Dr. Das alleged that Dalit Christians who converted from Hinduism are being denied SC benefits due to the Presidential Order. He pointed out that exemptions were earlier granted to Sikhs in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990, and questioned why similar justice is being denied to Dalit Christians.
He said that communities who left Hinduism due to caste-based discrimination and embraced Christianity are still being deprived of constitutional benefits. “When people from BC and OC categories who convert are not denied such benefits, why is injustice being done only to SC converts?” he asked.
Expressing concern, he alleged that attacks on churches and pastors have been increasing in the state. He criticised authorities for imposing restrictions and demolishing long-standing places of worship. He demanded that churches constructed on poramboke or D-patta lands be regularised immediately.
Dr. Das warned that if such discrimination continues, Dalit Christians will give a strong political response in upcoming general, MPTC, ZPTC, municipal, and corporation elections through their vote. He said every insult and injustice would be answered through democratic means.
He further stated that after the June 4 protest, a memorandum will be submitted to the Secretariat. The movement, he said, will continue at village, mandal, and municipal levels until justice is achieved.
Forum representatives Bandela Dayanandam, Sahadev, Bishop Jyothi Anand, Pulipaka Prakash, Basavanna, and Daiva Prakash were present at the press conference.
