A protest gathering of Dalit Christians were organised on August 10th 2024 at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park, Hyderabad. This was organised by All India Christian Federation. This meeting was presided over by Gattipati Vijaya Raju and the main speakers were Retired High court Justice Chandra Kumar, Jhansi Geddam, National Convener, Dalit Sthree Sakthi, Krupakar Madiga, Writer, Fr Bosco, Bishop Raju Alex and others. Pastor Samuel John delivered inaugural speech. He called for submitting a memorandum to the president of India and prime minister of India to consider treating dalit Christians as scheduled caste. Jhansi Geddam who participated in this protest gathering elaborately explained the problem of dalit Christians, caste discrimination and the need for conferring scheduled caste status on dalit Christians.
Jhansi Geddam: Unfortunately, scheduled castes are bearing the burden of caste system in this country. Even when they take up other religion they are being considered as scheduled caste and are being oppressed. Thus, it is established that caste is independent of religion. Unfortunately, the government is mixing up religion and caste and discriminating dalit Christians. But in social reality, dalit Christians are considered as scheduled castes only. This attitude of the government is in violation of freedom of religion. In Tsundur cases brutal atrocity were committed on scheduled castes and 7 people were murdered brutally. But when the cases came up for trial it was argued that the victims are Christians, thereby delaying the trial. The accused approached high court also on this point. Thus, treating dalit Christians as not belonging to scheduled caste is against social reality and constitution. Hence there is urgent need to immediately confer the status of scheduled caste on dalit Christians. There by protecting their religious freedom.
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