Karnataka, Hindu nationalists: No economic aid to Christians and Muslims
Mangalore (AsiaNews) - A new wave of protests in Karnataka to eliminate any
economic aid to Christians and Muslims, and introduce special programs for the
Hindus. Activists
of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP (Vishwa
Hindu Parishad, the ultranationalist right-wing movement) have slammed the
recent proposals of the Central Government to grant facilities to Christians
and Muslims of Others Backward Classes (Obv) and Scheduled Castes (SC). The
demonstrations took place yesterday in Mangalore and in Udupi on February 24.
In
Mangalore, members of the VHP and the Bajrang submitted a memorandum against
the Ranganath Misra report, the National Commission for Religious and
Linguistic Minorities, which has proposed to extend art. 3
of the Constitution Scheduled Castes (SC) to Christians and Muslims. Under
this paragraph, the law recognizes the rights and economic, educational and
social aid only to Hindu Dalits. Later,
in 1956 and 1990, the status was extended to Buddhists and Sikhs. In
addition, activists have condemned the Central Government for having provided
4.5% more job placements for Muslims and Other Backward Class (OBC).
A
week ago in Udupi, ultra-nationalist Hindu Bajrang Dal and the VHP announced a nationwide campaign to
prevent Christians and Muslims from accessing the 27% of places reserved for OBCs
in the public sector and higher education.
Sajan
George, president of the Global Council
of Indian Christians (GCIC), said: "India is a secular and democratic
cpuntry. Yet, its constitution is the first to deny Dalit Christians and
Muslims Scheduled Caste status. Government must
move and prevent these ultranationalist groups from increasing the sense of
insecurity already felt by minorities. We must stop these aggressive and
violent campaigns that seek only to establish the Hindu hegemony. "
The
Other Backward Class (OBC) are a
category of people considered economically and socially inferior, as
distinguished from the Scheduled Caste (SC, the Dalits or
"outcastes") and Scheduled Tribes (St, indigenous tribal). Belonging
to these groups does not depend on religion, but on social, economic and
educational status rooted in time.
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11/10/2023 16:37
14/02/2005
