Don't forget Dalit Christians, Muslims on Independence Day

URGENT PRESS STATEMENT
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 15, 2007

Christian Community welcomes President, PM assurances to Minorities, Dalits, Poor
But action needed on ground to restore security, dignity
Dalit Christians, Muslims still ignored
[Following is the text of the press release issued by Dr John Dayal, Member, NIC, Government of India, on behalf of the All India Catholic Union, the All India Christian Council and the United Christian Action on Independence Day 2007]

The Christian community greets fellow citizens on 60 years of India’s Independence, and prays for the welfare of all Indians and our leaders. We recognise that Freedom is a gift of God who made every human being free – specially free from oppression of caste, free from discrimination on grounds of skin colour, religion, faith, and class.
Even as we thank God, we also acknowledge the debt we owe to all those who fought for our freedom from feudal and colonial rule, among them Pinto in the 18th Century who was hanged for raising his voice against the Portuguese, and the hundreds of thousands who sacrificed themselves so the country could be free of Imperial rule, and the stronghold of princelings and landlords.
We congratulate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his brave words and promises to the nation from Red Fort. We also congratulate President Pratibha Patil for similar expressions in her first address to the nation. We share their dream of an India united despite its many diversities. We fully support his promise of an India in which every citizen can live a life of dignity, self- respect, decency and hope. We welcome the rehabilitation promise for farmers who lose land to SEZs, but we oppose SEZs in areas that take away not just land, but dignity, livelihood and ultimately the fruits of Independence from the poorest of the poor.
We hope the government will soon enact measures to activate the Prime Minister’s commitment to the economic, social, political and educational empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Tribes, OBCs and religious minorities.
Dr Manmohan Singh must ensure his promises are not weakened by lack of political will in the Government, the vested interests of many, and the opposition of communal and feudal elements in the ruling classes. All too often have promises for Dalits and Minorities in Five-Year Plans, annual Budgets and Republic Day and Independence Day speeches died an early death.
We search in vain in the two speeches for some hope for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. We hope the government will expeditiously implement the decisions of the Sachchar Commission and the Justice Misra Commission who said Dalits should not be divided on the basis of religion in affirmative action. We hope Dr Buta Singh’s National Scheduled caste Commission and the Supreme Court of India will give justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims a s justice has been done in the past to Dalits professing the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths.
We wish to remind the Honourable President and Prime Minister of India of the great hope and expectations of the poor of the land from them and their government. These hopes must not be belied.
Dr. John Dayal
Member: National Integration Council, Government of India
National President: All India Catholic Union (Founded 1919)
Secretary General: All India Christian Council (Founded 1999)
President: United Christian Action, Delhi (Founded 1992)
505 Link, 18 IP Extension, Delhi 110092 India
Email: johndayal@vsnl.com , http://groups.google.com/group/JohnDayal, Phone: 91-11-22722262 Mobile 09811021072