SC opposes reservation to Dalit Muslims, Christians

Chandigarh, Nov 29: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has categorically opposed the proposal for reservation to dalit Muslims and Christians.

In its annual report submitted to the Centre, the Commission has ''rejected in toto'' the proposal for extending the reservation facility to dalit Muslims and Christians, Commission vice chairman Faqirbhai Waghela told reporters here today.

Giving the rationale for the Commission's opposition to the proposal, he said reservation was given to dalits not on monetary basis. Untouchability, which was prevalent among Hindus, was one of the prime factors taken into account in this regard.

Since untouchabilty is not practiced in other religions, there was no sound reason for Muslims and Christians to be included in the reserved category, he said.

The Dalits, who had converted to Islam or Christianity, had no right to demand reservation, he added.

The report of the Commission, Mr Waghela said, had been submitted to the Centre.

No reservation benefits should be given to those 'Swarnas' (high-caste) who married Dalit girls, the Commission had recommended. The Commission had taken this view as high-caste men often marry Dalit girls just for the benefit of reservation and exploit and desert them, Mr Waghela said. The Commission had also recommended the Centre to provide reservation to SCs in all posts and all departments, including defence.

Regretting that at present, reservation was not being given to SCs for certain posts, he said the Commission had recommended that reservation be given to SCs in all posts from Class I to IV in all posts.

The Commission, he said, had also called for reservation in the private sector. In this era of privatisation and globalisation, very 'few jobs were left' in the public sector and therefore there was urgent need for reservation in the private sector.

Moreover, the government was giving land to industrialists on concessional rates and extending them tax benefits of various kinds. Keeping this in mind, they should also adopt the reservation policy which the government had suggested.

Regarding the upcoming reservation bill, the Commission had recommended that a penal clause be incorporated in the legislation to punish 'defaulting officers'.

The officers ''who do not fill the reservation quota'' be liable to undergo imprisonment for six months and pay a fine of Rs 5,000, he added.

Mr Waghela was in the city to review the Haryana government's schemes with regard to the welfare of the SCs, STs and OBCs.

UNI

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