AICU cautions Christians from celebrating too early; "Do not relax til demands are met"

Panaji - Christian organisations in India had something to cheer about after the ouster of the pro-Hindu coalition government. This was a shock result in the public mandate during the recent general elections. However, many Christian leaders are warning that it is too early to throw caution to the wind and are stressing that one should not relax until the new coalition government has ensured them safety and protection from Hindu extremists.

The national vice president, Dr. John Dayal of All India Catholic Union (AICU) said last week that they would impress upon the new Congress-led government to legislate laws that would ensure equality to the community.

Dr. Dayal participated in the two-day working committee of the AICU that concluded last Monday. The meet deliberated on community issues and developments following the 2004 general elections and formation of a secular alliance at the Centre.

"For fifty years, the Dalits who profess Christianity have demanded the same civil rights as their brethren in the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths," said Dr. Dayal. He pointed out that they have pursued the issue with previous governments and would continue to do and even hold rallies nationwide for an equitable treatment under the Indian Constitution.

Incidentally, the Christian Dalits are still given discriminatory treatment in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. They still continue to struggle for civil rights in the country because they do not avail the protection of the same laws as granted to other Dalits.

Since 1971, the percentage of Christian population in the country has been declining, which was of concern. Those who claim that the Christian population is rising and there were instances of conversion, should cross-check with the data to substantiate, he said.

It was also of paramount importance that the Christians who are educated and who observe a small family norm should not be denied the right to adopt as it was a right available to all others in the country, said Dr. Dayal. Today, while Christian organisations run a large number of orphanages in the country, the community does not have the legal right to adopt.

The discrepancies in the law also extends to the foreign contribution regulation Act (FCRA) for the community, as often the funds for nuns are put under scrutiny, thereby jeopardising the community and social services that they provide. Again, the Indian embassies would not issue Visas to Christian pastors wanting to visit India, he said.