BRS has urged the Scheduled Caste Commission to recommend granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians, asserting that a change in religion does not erase the social discrimination, exclusion, and economic hardships historically faced by Dalit communities. A BRS delegation met the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday and submitted a detailed representation seeking amendments to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. The party argued that constitutional protections should be based on social realities rather than religious identity.
The delegation, comprising Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, former Minister Koppula Eshwar, BRS General Secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar, and party leader Mede Rajiv Sagar, urged the Commission to recommend corrective measures to ensure equal treatment for Dalit Christians. BRS leaders maintained that despite conversion, members of Dalit Christian communities continue to experience caste-based discrimination and social disadvantage. They contended that denying them SC status amounts to unequal treatment and undermines the principles of social justice enshrined in the Constitution.
The party also highlighted that the Telangana legislative assembly had previously adopted a resolution supporting the demand for SC status for Dalit Christians and urged the Commission to take note of the state's position on the issue. BRS reiterated its commitment to pursuing all democratic and constitutional avenues to secure justice for Dalit Christians and urged the Centre to act on the Commission's recommendations in the interest of equality and inclusive social welfare.
This move by BRS underscores the ongoing debate over caste-based discrimination among religious minorities in India. The demand for SC status for Dalit Christians has been a longstanding issue, with advocates arguing that caste discrimination persists even after conversion to Christianity. The Commission's recommendations could have significant implications for social justice policies in the country.
