Quota sought for religious minorities

BANGALORE: The representatives from Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive policy and National Law School of India University pledged their support to the rally and agitation demanding reservation for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.In a statement, Dr S Japhet, professor and director of the Centre, recalled the various efforts of organisations to secure reservation facilities for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims as they should be considered as Scheduled Castes.The group substantiated their demand by referring to incidents reported from various parts of the country where Dalit Christians have been vulnerable to attacks as were Dalits. Even within their religions, they are still being treated as Dalits, the statement said.Amendment wantedThe religious minority groups want an amendment to the Presidential Order of the Government of India, 1950, that disallows people professing other religions other than Hinduism from being considered as SCs.