Organised by the Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness of National Council of Churches in India and the SC/ST Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India.
CNI Bhawan, Pandit Pant Marg, New Delhi.
'Black Day' was observed by the Indian churches and Christian organisations across India under the auspices of the National Council of Churches in India and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India demanding the repealing of the infamous Presidential Order in 1950 to exclude the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims from the Scheduled Caste list.
As part of the observance Church leaders and the Christian lay leaders along with the Dalit Muslim leaders conducted a protest meeting at the CNI Bhawan in New Delhi on the 12th of August 2014.
As part of the observance Church leaders and the Christian lay leaders along with the Dalit Muslim leaders conducted a protest meeting at the CNI Bhawan in New Delhi on the 12th of August 2014.
The meeting started with a word of payer by Bishop Collin C Theodore (delhi Brotherhood). Adv Franklin Caesar gave a brief report about the present situation of the case in the Supreme Court regarding the Dalit Christian reservation issue.
Alwan Massey, General Secretary, the Church of North India Synod pointed out in the meeting that this issue is not about the government giving some favour to the Dailt Christian / Dalit Muslim, but it is their Constitutional right, which is denied to them. Archbishop emeritus Vincent Concessao exhorted that no king or governments have lasted when they ignored justice to the poor and marginalised. If the present government also continues to act in the similar manner, it will also face same fate.
Alwan Massey, General Secretary, the Church of North India Synod pointed out in the meeting that this issue is not about the government giving some favour to the Dailt Christian / Dalit Muslim, but it is their Constitutional right, which is denied to them. Archbishop emeritus Vincent Concessao exhorted that no king or governments have lasted when they ignored justice to the poor and marginalised. If the present government also continues to act in the similar manner, it will also face same fate.
Mr Ali Ansari, MP, JDU affirmed that this struggle will be relentless until we succeed, the JDU will always support the struggle of
Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.
Fr Devasagayaraj, the Secretary, Catholic Bishops Conference of India(CBCI) Office for SC/BC(Dalits and Backward classes) and Mr Samuel Jeyakumar (Executive Secretary of the Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness of the National Council of Churches in India told that they have already written to Mr. Modi, Prime Minister of India requesting the government to resolve and revisit SC status issue of Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim. We hope the Prime Minister will do justice to the Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim by following inclusive policy for the growth of the nation.
Various leaders of churches and organisations such as YMCA and YWCA attended the meeting in solidarity with the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. The English and Hindi choir of St Michael's church in Prasad Nagar sung songs, which were inspirational. Hundreds of people carrying black flags and placards raised slogans demanding equal rights after the meeting got over. They reiterated the stand that they will sustain the struggle until the demand is addressed by the government,
Various leaders of churches and organisations such as YMCA and YWCA attended the meeting in solidarity with the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. The English and Hindi choir of St Michael's church in Prasad Nagar sung songs, which were inspirational. Hundreds of people carrying black flags and placards raised slogans demanding equal rights after the meeting got over. They reiterated the stand that they will sustain the struggle until the demand is addressed by the government,
Black Day was observed across India by churches, organisations, and theological colleges
it is reported that many member churches of the National Council of Churches in India , theological colleges and organisations observed Black Day in solidarity with the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. United Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College- Chennai, United Theological College- Bangalore, Student Christian Movement in India are a few among them. There were protest marches and Dharnas in many places such as Viduthalai Tamil Puligal Katchi had done in Tamil Nadu and the collectorate march in Kerala led by Dalit Christian Action Council.
