This story is from January 8, 2020

BJP representatives face Anglo-Indian wrath

The two Anglo-Indian MLAs from BJP-ruled states, Denzil Godin from Uttar Pradesh and Gregory Mann from Uttarakhand, were urged by the members of the community on Monday to take the lead in protests against the Centre for de-reserving the Anglo-Indian seats in Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
BJP representatives face Anglo-Indian wrath
Dignitaries at the Anglo-Indian meet.
KOLKATA: The two Anglo-Indian MLAs from BJP-ruled states, Denzil Godin from Uttar Pradesh and Gregory Mann from Uttarakhand, were urged by the members of the community on Monday to take the lead in protests against the Centre for de-reserving the Anglo-Indian seats in Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
A meeting of the community, including leaders from across the country, took place at Frank Anthony School till past Tuesday midnight.
A resolution was taken that since the two MLAs were nominated by BJP, they should take the movement forward and make the Centre see reason.
Organised by All-India Anglo-Indian Association, at least 14 social organisations of the community congregated at the meet, which was touted as “special and the first since Independence”. December 12 when the de-reservation was announced, was described as a “Black Day”. The community felt the Centre was moving against minorities in a calculated manner and the de-reservation of Anglo seats could be bracketed in the same category as CAA and NRC.
The two MLAs were urged to take up “lies” like the total number of Anglo-Indians being 296 and that they are all “financially well off” — the two reasons given in the Parliament for the de-reservation of seats. The community also felt a survey should be carried out in schools and parishes to take a head count of Anglo-Indians.
“The problem of the 2011 census was that there was just a column for Christians and none for Anglo-Indians, hence this confusion over numbers. In reality, we are nearly four lakh in number, spread across the country and don’t belong to any particular state. We hope the two sitting MLAs will bring this to the notice of the Centre,” said Augustine Roy Rosario. His thoughts were echoed by Ursula Fosberry and Charles Diaz (former MP in the UPA II government).
The two sitting MLAs of Kerala and Bengal, Venessa Nero and Michael Shane Calvert, too, were urged to add strength to the movement that should build up fast because the de-reservation came into effect in phases from January
25. Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien, who joined the meet, also stressed the two MLAs, “should go and meet the respective chief ministers of their states and appeal on behalf of the community”. He told TOI, “The community has urged the two MLAs and ex-BJP nominated MP George Baker to take the lead and go in a delegation and express their views as representatives of the community.”
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