Demonstration with Dalit drums, folk songs and music was held on December 4 in New Delhi demanding justice of Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin. Many political and religious leaders expressed their support for the demand of Christian and Muslim communities for the Scheduled Caste right to their Dalit brethren.
As reported by mattersindia.com, His Grace Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) addressing the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, a venue for public protest near the Indian Parliament House, said, “If you don’t listen to our voices at least listen to our drums.” Father Jervis D’Souza, CBCI deputy secretary general, said that the government should protect the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, provide them legal protection and promote their development by extending their due Scheduled Caste rights.
The protest was organized by the Dalit Christian Artists Coordination Committee. Adavu cultural team from Tamil Nadu performed the Dalit Drum ‘Parai.’ ‘Nine is Mine,’ a child right group’s children, also performed their drums.
The demonstrators demanded from the federal government the following:
- To give directions to furnish the reply of Government on the suits pending in Supreme Court on the issue of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
- To initiate steps to bring a Bill in Parliament to extend Scheduled Caste Rights to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin.
Source: www.mattersindia.com
