New Delhi, November 18, 2009: About 3000 activists from all over the country gathered at Jantar Mantar for a one-day dharna demanding equal rights to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste Origin on par with the rights of their SC counterparts in other religions.

Prominent among those who addressed the gathering were Mr Oscar Fernandez, Union Labour Minister, Mr J D Seelam, Mr Harsha Kumar, Members of Parliament from the ruling Congress Party, and Mr Ali Anwar, MP, Janatha Dal United, Jose K Mani, MP, Kerala Congress.

Memoranda were submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to Mr Veerappa Moily, Law minister and Shri Salman Kursheed, Minister of Minority Affairs. Mr Veerappa Moily assured the delegation that their demands would be favourably considered and that his ministry was looking into the procedural details. Shri Salman Kursheed said that the PMO has already initiated the process of considering the demands of Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin.

Speaking at the event, both Muslim and Christian leaders pointed out that the successive union governments had been indifferent to the issue of non-inclusion of Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste Origin in the Scheduled Caste category. The Church Leaders demanded the urgent and serious consideration of the issue. They earnestly urged the government to render justice to those who have been denied of their constitutional rights for decades.

Earlier at 9.30 am, the activists took out a march from Kerala House to Jantar Mantar. The dharna was organized by the National Council of Dalit Christians.