End quota of Dalits embracing Islam, Christianity: VHP-backed body urges PM

LUCKNOW: VHP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end reservation granted to Dalits and OBCs who have embraced Islam or Christianity.
In a letter to the PM dated January 9, general secretary of the Samiti Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said Dalits and OBCs were being converted into Christianity and Islam under a conspiracy.TOI is in possession of the letter.
“Dalits and OBCs are being asked not to change their names and avail benefits of reservation provided to them in the Constitution. We, therefore, request that the government
should carry out a campaign and deny benefits of reservation to converted Dalits,” Saraswati said.
He said religious conversions amongst Dalits exposes the hypocrisy of Muslims and Christians who claim that they believe in social equality and that there is no casteism in their religions.
“Conversions are being carried out by missionaries who are working in pockets dominated by Dalits and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Missionaries are hatching a conspiracy to damage the social fabric of the country,” he said.
“Petitioning the Supreme Court and seeking reservation for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians will deprive actual Dalits of their rights guaranteed to them in the Constitution,” Saraswati said, adding that reservation was provided to lower caste Hindus to end inequality and discrimination.
The letter claimed that states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand conducted census of converted Dalits and 10 states curtailed religious conversion and discontinued benefits to Dalits who got converted.
“These steps have helped in preserving the multi-cultural aspects of the country,” Saraswati said.