Govt must release Justice Rangnath Misra report: Christian council

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The All India Christian Council has demanded early release of the report of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic minorities, constituted to investigate whether Dalit Muslims and Christians continued to suffer from disadvantages of the former untouchable class.

In a statement issued here, the Council Secretary general John Dayal said the delay in submission of the report had already delayed hearing in the Supreme Court of petitions demanding that scheduled caste benefits, including protection of law and reservations in education be extended to all who suffer from this social infirmity without restricting it only to those professing Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

''I understand Justice Misra, who handed over the report to the Prime Minister's office on May 14, and three religious members have recommended scheduled caste rights for Muslims and Christians of Scheduled caste. Member Secretary Asha Das, IAS retired, has not agreed with the SC status for Dalit Christians and Muslims,''Mr Dayal said and added that ''the confusion in the public mind can only end once the government finally releases the report as also action taken on it''.

''I hope the Government takes early action to reverse an historic injustice, and give to Christians of Muslim and Dalit origin the benefits under law which are rightfully theirs,'' he said.

UNI