Author:
Publication: The Hindu
Date: August 20, 2007
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/20/stories/2007082058930900.htm
Introduction: Measures not at the expense
of the Scheduled Castes.
Extending benefits to Dalits who converted
would adversely impact the SCs.
Terms it yet another move to treat minority
communities as 'vote bank'.
Bharatiya Janata Dalit Morcha president Satyanarayan
Jatia has criticised the Central Government for its efforts to extend reservation
to Dalits converted to other faiths claiming it to be yet another move to
treat the minority communities as 'vote bank'. The Morcha is not against measures
for welfare of minorities, but they should not be at the expense of the Scheduled
Castes which comprise 17 per cent of the population, he said.
Will impact SCs
Participating in a Dalit Morcha State executive
meeting here on Saturday, he said extending benefits of reservations to Dalits
who converted to other religions would adversely impact the SCs in that they
would be made to compete for their share in the existing quota.
"This amounts to nothing but ridiculing
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who wanted equality in terms of opportunities to Dalits,"
he said. He criticised the 'Sonia Gandhi Government' at the Centre for stopping
implementation of rule of reservation in minority institutions.
The Government, at the same time, was trying
to provide 'interest free' loans to the Muslim community on the basis of Sachar
Committee report. "Why is the same facility not being extended to Dalits?"
he asked.
He exhorted the morcha activists and the party
cadre to educate people on the 'anti-Dalit' policies of the Central Government.
Appreciating the morcha for chalking out a
45-day agitational plan across the State, BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya
asked them to identify lapses in the implementation of Indiramma scheme while
they should launch a door-to-door campaign for identifying shelterless poor
who were in need of houses.
