The Congress-led UPA government seems to have learnt no lessons from the recent drubbing in state elections and is continuing its “politics of appeasement.” Its minority cell is working overnight to prepare a blue print on ‘SC status to Muslims and Christian Dalits’ to be circulated among various stakeholders that will finally take the shape of an affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court.
The case of Dalit status to Muslims and Christians has been pending before the SC since 2004 and the Government had been excusing itself from filing an affidavit knowing very well about its political and social implications. Now the stage seems to be ready for addressing the issue of striking down the Presidential (SC) order of 1950 which denies equal rights to Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin.
In spite of its “politics of appeasement”, the Congress suffered bad news from the minorities. Though it managed to retain five minority dominated seats in Delhi, the voting percentage for AAP candidates from these areas shows that minority voters are trying other options too. In Rajasthan, all 16 minority candidates fielded by the Congress lost. In Madhya Pradesh, only one of 17 minority candidates fielded by the party won. In the last LS polls, the Congress had won the most number of minority dominates seats. The Muslim electorate played a crucial role in bringing Congress back to pwer. Congress has the highest number of Muslim MPs from minority dominated constituencies followed by BSP and National Conference. The Minority Ministry has anchored its case, which is likely to be taken up in the Cabinet meeting soon, on the Ranganath Mishra Commission Report which in no uncertain terms had recommended dalit status to Muslims and Christians converted from the dalit communities in Hinduism. It also takes note of the recommendations made by National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), which also recommended the same. The Ministry blue print also mentions the recommendations of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). “Our ministry has strongly recommended for giving SC status to Dalit Christians and Muslims. For which it is important that the Presidential Order of 1950 is amended,’’ said a JS level official at the Minority ministry.
The Presidential Order holds that only Dalits who practice Hinduism can be treated as SC. Equally potent is the issue of reservation in Parliamentary and Assembly seats. A source said that the SC MPs and MLAs belonging to all parties will try their best to scuttle the move.