MPs want reservation benefits for Dalit converts too

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Several Members of Parliament have lent their support for allowing the Dalits who coverted to Christianity or Islam to enjoy the reservation facilities extended to the Dalit community members in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

In their letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the MPs including Mr Vijay Krishna and Mr Mangani Lal Mandal demanded the extension of Scheduled Caste reservation to all Dalits irrespective of their religion instead of giving only to those professing Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

They said the reservation facilities were denied to those who coverted to Islam or Christianity and have been placed among the Other Backward Castes. "A Dalit can't compete with an OBC", the MPs said.

The leaders said the Presidential order in 1950 was against the secular character of the constitution because it said the state shall not discriminate against any citizen on the ground of religion.

Mahatma Gandhi in his journal "Harijan" published in 1936 had opined that a Harijan converted to Christianity Islam or Sikhism, continued to be a Harijan and could not change his'' 'spots' inherited from Hinduism.'' Dalits ''professing Islam and Christianity'' should also avail the facilities provided to Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh under Article 341", the MPs said.

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