Muslims, Christians come on same platform, demand SC status

Patna, June 21 (UNI) Muslims' and Christians' bodies today came on a common platform in support of their demand for according Scheduled Caste(SC) status to dalits in their communities and castigated the Union government for turning nelson eye on the issue.

Talking to mediapersons here, president of All India United Muslim Morcha Dr M Ejaj Ali said that Muslims and Christians would jointly organise Adhikar Conference(Rights' conference) in Patna on July 1 next to press the Centre for acceptance of the recommendations of the Sacchar Committee and Ranganathan Committee related to granting scheduled caste status to dalits of both the communities.

''The UPA government accepted almost all recommendations of the Sachchar committee on May 18 last, but it deferred the decision on according the SC status to dalits in muslims till the receipt of report of justice Ranganathan Committee, which was constituted to study the condition of religious and linguistic minorities in the country,''he lamented.

''It appears that intention of the UPA government on the issue is not fair, '' Mr Ali said adding the Centre was mysteriously keeping mum even after the receipt of Rangathan Commission on May 21 last, which had also recommended for according SC status to dalits in Muslims and Christians.

Rajendra Kamal, a christian leader and president of Bihar unit of INSAF, who was also present on the occasion, urged the Central government to take a fresh decision on the issue and accept their long standing demand by ordinance or through a bill in the coming parliamentary session.

UNI