Staff Correspondent
Bidar: Around 85 per cent of the Christians in India are Dalits. They embraced Christianity to escape harassment from “caste” Hindus. But their plight remained the same, said M. Mariswamy, convenor of the Karnataka Dalit Christians Federation.
“Dalit Christians are as backward as their Hindu brethren. They continue to be discriminated against by society and governments,” he said.
He was speaking at a seminar on “Reservation to Dalit Christians and reservation to Dalits in government and private sector”.
He said that Dalit Christians too needed government support just as Dalits.
“However, we get access neither to reservation nor financial assistance that is usually meant for Hindu Dalits,” he said.
Dalit Chaitanya Vedike convenor M. Narayan Swamy demanded the Centre to enact a law to enforce reservation in the private sector.
He urged the State Government to set up a Dalit Christian Development Board on the lines of Kerala.
Dalit Christians should be given representation in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Narayan Swamy said.
Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur inaugurated the seminar. He promised to take up the issue with the Chief Minister.
DSS convenor Maruti Bouddhe, Joseph Daniel, Abdul Mannan Seth, Wahid Lakahan, Rahim Khan, Yohan Chillargi and others were present.
