Catholics and Church of South India members observed Wednesday as a black day to mark the Constitution Order that said that only Hindus can be Scheduled Castes.
The order was amended in 1956 and 1990 to include Sikhs and Buddhists respectively. At an event on the Santhome church premises, leaders of both Catholics and the CSI called for the repeal of the 1950 order. Archbishop George Antonysamy of the Madras and Mylapore Archdiocese told presspersons that the Order went against the spirit of the unity of the country.
“We demand an end to using religion to divide us. Not just Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, but also those from Islam and Christianity should be considered Scheduled Castes,” he said. In a statement, the organisers said that then-President Rajendra Prasad was to blame for the situation. “Influenced by the RSS, the parent of the BJP, the first President of India signed this order that goes against the Constitution. This has led to irrevocable damage to Dalit Christians,” it said.
