Dalit Christians threaten to reconvert to Hinduism

Puducherry, Jul 30: Alleging discrimination at the hands of upper caste Christians, Dalit Christians here on Wednesday, July 30 threatened to ''re-embrace Hinduism'', if the unfavourable treatment meted out to them did not end.

Addressing a press conference, National President of the Federation of National Dalit Christians M S Raj said their ancestors were Hindus who had converted to Christianity when Europeans came to India. But after they left the country, the Dalit Christians could not get the compassion and protection they had been enjoying and the Indian Christians came under the caste feelers. Gradually, they began ruling over Dalit Christians. Stating that the Eraiyur incident was one example to show how Dalit Christians were being discriminated against, he alleged.

He alleged that peace had not been restored in Eraiyur and that it was under police control. He claimed that Dalit Christians had been deprived of several of their rights because of conversions and said they could not avail the benefits of reservation in education and empolyment were being suppressed by higher caste Christians in all aspects.

Hence, the leader of the Tamil Nadu Bishops Council Rev Fernando would hold a meeting with all the 18 Bishops in the state to find a solution to their problems, he said. The Dalit Christians would wait till August 15 and if no action was taken to end this discrimination, they would ''reembrace Hinduism.''

UNI