Muslim MPs send letter to PMO, seek SC status for Dalit Christians and Muslims
New Delhi: In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dated December 18, 2013, a group of Muslim MPsprotested the brutal lathi charge on Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims who had taken out a march in Delhi on December 11, 2013 demanding their inclusion into SC list.
The letter mentions that a lot of people from different walks of life had protested at Jantar Mantar accompanied by Arch Bishops, Bishops, Fathers, Nuns and many Muslim leaders from all parts of the country demanding the reply of the Government of India to the Supreme Court query on the Writ Petition No 184/2004, which was pending for more than 8 years.
Extending their support these MPs, 10 in total, urged the prime minister to intervene. “We couldn’t raise the issue in both the houses due to frequent disruptions and adjournments. Many of us raised the issue in both the houses since 2004 but could not get the reply form the Government to the Court,” reads the letter.
The letter argues that deletion of Para 3 of 1950s Presidential order by appropriate means is part of issue. Extending SC status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled caste origin by responding to the Apex Court’s query without further dogging is Constitutionally Justified and “we endorse their demand and seek your assurance by filing reply to the Supreme Court.
A copy of the same letter which has been signed by dignitaries like Anwar Ali Ansari, Hussain Dilwai, A.S. Maleehabadi, Shafique Rehman Burq, Sabir Ali, M. AbdurRahman, Shariq Sharifuddin, Mohammad Shafi, were also sent to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Minority Affairs.