भारत की संसद

लोकसभा

DR. P. VENUGOPAL (TIRUVALLUR):  Madam, Speaker, there is an urgent crying need to increase the social equality measures in our country.  From time immemorial, be they from the former princely states or from the British India, the marginalised sons of the soil and lower-classmasses have always suffered humiliating inequalities and demeaning social subjugation. …(Interruptions) So, an affirmative action was required to uplift all the socially and educationally backward sections of our Indian society.  This emphatic socialjustice measure, introduced much earlier by our Dravidian Self-Respect Movement, was advocated by Dr. Ambedkar.  Hence, reservation for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people was provided in our Indian Constitution.  Still the process of identification and inclusion of some more castes in the List of Scheduled Castes is going on.  So, the deadline for ending reservation is rightly extended every time.…(Interruptions)

          In India, Caste is decided by birth.  That is why castesystem is deep-rooted, thereby warranting socially uplifting measures.  It is also true that Caste is not decided by religion.  But the Scheduled Castes, who follow Christian religion, are denied reservation benefits under the social equality measures as if they are not Scheduled Castes.  This needs to be reviewed and remedied.…(Interruptions)

          Recently, the Union Government has earmarked 10 per cent quota in the name of reservation to forward-castes based on an economic criterion.

12 22 hrs

At this stage, Shri Rajeev Satav and some other hon. Members

went back to their seats.

          So, I urge upon the Centre to immediately provide at least three per cent to five per cent reservation from that new reservation to the deprived Scheduled Caste Christians.  This is necessary because they continue to remain a socially marginalised section of the society as ever.  Even otherwise, I urge upon the Union Government to include Christian Scheduled Castes also in the List of all other Scheduled Castes and extend unconditionally the reservation meant for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

          Madam Speaker, in this regard, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Jayalalitha also wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh strongly backing the demand for inclusion of Dalit Christians in the List of Scheduled Castes and demanded that necessary legislation be brought.  She had also written a letter in 1995 to the then Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao.  This is my submission, Madam.

SHRI M. B.  RAJESH (PALAKKAD): Madam, Speaker.

माननीय अध्यक्ष: आपका नाम है।  I will call you.  Your name is there.

SHRI M. B.  RAJESH: Why are you not allowing me to speak?

माननीय अध्यक्ष: आप इनको समझाओ । मैं क्या करूं?  Otherwise, your name is next in the list.

… (Interruptions)

HON. SPEAKER:   Your name is there in the list.  I will call you.

श्री निशिकान्त दुबे (गोड्डा): स्पीकर मैडम, इन्होंने इस पद का बहुत दुरुपयोग किया ।…(व्यवधान) इन्होंने रोज बोला।…(व्यवधान)