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Bihar CM and senior JD-U leader Nitish Kumar.
JD(U) seeks implementation of Sachar report
Sun-May 31, 2009
New Delhi / Press Trust of India
The JD(U) today demanded immediate implementation of the Sachar Committee report and batted for Scheduled Caste status for Dalits among Christian and Muslims.
"It is unfortunate that the recommendations of the Sachar Committee have yet not been implemented. JD(U) demands that these recommendations are immediately implemented. Not only Dalit Muslims but Dalit Christians be also given SC status," the political resolution passed by the national executive of the party, a key ally of NDA, here said.
Asked about BJP's opposition to this demand, senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "We are a different political party. Their (BJP's) opinion could be different. But we will air our views."
The political resolution of the party while advocating for its twin demands called for "ending the injustice" to these communities.
Party President Sharad Yadav argued that religion can be changed but not the caste and recalled that Janta Dal had got reservations benefits for Dalits among Buddhists during the VP Singh's government in the past.
Demanding an end to the practice of implementation of the central government schemes in states, the party's resolution said, "The money spent in these schemes should be directly provided to the states and they should be allowed to run schemes according to their needs."
The party also alleged that the central government's schemes failed to achieve their targets.
"The Centre should focus on the subjects specified in the union list. I wonder why they are focussing so much on subjects of the state list. This is a temptation which people (the central government) should check," Kumar said.
States should have the freedom to make their own schemes as different states have different requirements, he argued.
Kumar also demanded that the Centre should give subsidy directly to the beneficiaries in cash and there should be proper identification of the target beneficiaries.
He said that instead of giving subsidy on foodgrains to the needy through Public Distribution System, the subsidy money should directly be credited in their account.
The party resolution also reiterated the demand for special state status for Bihar. "Bihar deserves a special package from the Centre under the special state status keeping in mind the level of poverty and status of private investment in the state," the party resolution said.
Alleging that the statistics of poverty are not correct, the party also demanded that it be redefined and new statistics are prepared accepting the ground reality of the country's poor.
"It is unfortunate that the recommendations of the Sachar Committee have yet not been implemented. JD(U) demands that these recommendations are immediately implemented. Not only Dalit Muslims but Dalit Christians be also given SC status," the political resolution passed by the national executive of the party, a key ally of NDA, here said.
Asked about BJP's opposition to this demand, senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "We are a different political party. Their (BJP's) opinion could be different. But we will air our views."
The political resolution of the party while advocating for its twin demands called for "ending the injustice" to these communities.
Party President Sharad Yadav argued that religion can be changed but not the caste and recalled that Janta Dal had got reservations benefits for Dalits among Buddhists during the VP Singh's government in the past.
Demanding an end to the practice of implementation of the central government schemes in states, the party's resolution said, "The money spent in these schemes should be directly provided to the states and they should be allowed to run schemes according to their needs."
The party also alleged that the central government's schemes failed to achieve their targets.
"The Centre should focus on the subjects specified in the union list. I wonder why they are focussing so much on subjects of the state list. This is a temptation which people (the central government) should check," Kumar said.
States should have the freedom to make their own schemes as different states have different requirements, he argued.
Kumar also demanded that the Centre should give subsidy directly to the beneficiaries in cash and there should be proper identification of the target beneficiaries.
He said that instead of giving subsidy on foodgrains to the needy through Public Distribution System, the subsidy money should directly be credited in their account.
The party resolution also reiterated the demand for special state status for Bihar. "Bihar deserves a special package from the Centre under the special state status keeping in mind the level of poverty and status of private investment in the state," the party resolution said.
Alleging that the statistics of poverty are not correct, the party also demanded that it be redefined and new statistics are prepared accepting the ground reality of the country's poor.
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Comments For This Post
The Presidential Order 1950 denies inclusion of Dalits of any community other than Hindu in the Scheduled Castes category. The third paragraph of the order says, “notwithstanding anything contained in para 2, no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed to be a member of the Scheduled Castes.” This part of the order runs contrary to the provisions of Articles 14 (equality before the law), 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion) and 25 (freedom to profess and practice any religion) of the Constitution.
It means that Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians can be included among the Scheduled Castes only after the amendment of the Indian Constitution. If it happens, it would not be the first time. The relevant part of the Constitution containing the order has been amended twice: first in 1956 and second in 1990. Through these amendments, Sikhs and Buddhists respectively were included in the Scheduled Caste category and thus they availed the benefits of reservation.
Hence Dalit Muslims and Christians should be given the benefits of reservation and other privileges as Scheduled Castes immediately.
Indian Dalit Muslims Voice
www.dalitmuslims.com
Islam, Christianity & even Sikhism are supposed to be castless society. Do they accept, there is caste division in those religions ? Then how someone can ask to provide scheduled Caste status to members from those religions ? If socio-economic status is considered, then poor from all section of society, irrespective of religion, should be given some special status.
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