✝️ PERSECUTION AND DISCRIMINATION ON THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF CHRISTIANS
Understanding Political Rights and Equal Representation
Political rights are an important part of democratic citizenship. Every citizen of India should have the opportunity to participate in public life, vote, contest elections where legally eligible, join political organisations, express political opinions peacefully, participate in public affairs and seek representation through democratic institutions.
However, PCF is concerned that Christians, particularly Dalit Christians and other Christians from historically disadvantaged communities, face serious issues concerning equal political representation and access to statutory benefits.
The issue is especially important for Dalit Christians because political reservation for Scheduled Castes is constitutionally provided in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies under Articles 330 and 332.
Therefore, when persons from Dalit communities who become Christians are excluded from the legal category of Scheduled Castes under the present statutory framework, PCF considers the resulting loss of SC-related benefits, including reserved political representation, to be an important issue of equality, justice and democratic participation.
1. POLITICAL RIGHTS OF DALIT CHRISTIANS
Dalit Christians are citizens of India and many have historical social and caste backgrounds associated with Scheduled Caste communities.
The present legal framework of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 restricts recognition as Scheduled Caste to persons professing the religions specified in that Order. Consequently, Dalits who profess Christianity are presently outside the SC category under that Order.
This has consequences beyond individual welfare benefits.
The SC framework includes constitutional political representation through reserved seats in the:
- Lok Sabha
- State Legislative Assemblies
Article 330 provides for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes in the House of the People, while Article 332 provides for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes in State Legislative Assemblies.
Therefore, PCF regards the denial of SC recognition to Dalit Christians as affecting not only social and economic benefits but also access to the constitutional framework of reserved political representation.
2. LOSS OF POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
PCF raises the concern that Dalit Christians who historically belonged to Scheduled Caste communities may lose access to constituencies and political opportunities connected with SC status after conversion to Christianity.
This can affect:
- SC-reserved Lok Sabha constituencies
- SC-reserved Assembly constituencies
- Political leadership opportunities connected with SC representation
- Representation of Dalit Christian community concerns in legislatures
- Participation in policy-making affecting disadvantaged communities
- Political voice concerning education, employment, welfare and social justice
PCF therefore demands that the issue of Dalit Christian political representation be considered together with the broader demand for equal statutory and constitutional rights.
3. CHRISTIAN POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN INDIA
Apart from the specific issue of Dalit Christian SC status, PCF is concerned about the wider question of Christian representation in Indian political institutions.
Christians constitute diverse communities including:
- Dalit Christians
- BC Christians
- OBC Christians
- OC Christians
- Tribal Christians
- Roman Catholics
- Protestants
- Orthodox Christians
- Other Christian denominations and communities
PCF believes that qualified Christian citizens should have meaningful opportunities to participate in political parties and public institutions.
Christians should not be excluded from political leadership merely because of their religious identity.
4. POLITICAL PARTIES AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS
PCF is concerned about the representation of Christian leaders within national and regional political parties.
Christian leaders participate in different political parties across India, including national and State-level parties.
PCF seeks a democratic dialogue with political parties concerning:
- MLA opportunities
- MP opportunities
- MLC opportunities where applicable
- Municipal and local-body representation
- Party organisational positions
- Leadership positions
- Parliamentary and legislative committees
- Government boards and commissions
- Minority and social-welfare institutions
PCF calls upon political parties to give fair and meaningful political opportunities to qualified Christian leaders and candidates.
5. SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN INDIA
Christian communities are present throughout India and have different social backgrounds in different regions.
In several southern States, large sections of Christian communities have historically disadvantaged caste backgrounds, including Dalit and BC backgrounds.
In northern and other parts of India, Christian communities include Roman Catholics, Protestants, Dalit Christians, OBC Christians, tribal Christians and other social groups.
PCF therefore seeks a national-level Christian political representation movement rather than limiting the issue to one State or one denomination.
6. CHRISTIANS MUST NOT BE TREATED AS FOREIGNERS
PCF strongly raises concern about statements or attitudes suggesting that Christianity is a “foreign religion” and therefore Indian Christians should not receive political importance or representation.
Christian citizens are Indian citizens.
Their constitutional citizenship and democratic rights should not depend upon arguments concerning the geographical origin of a religion.
PCF calls for equal treatment of Christian citizens as participants in India’s democratic and constitutional system.
Any specific allegation of discrimination should be documented and pursued through appropriate legal and democratic mechanisms.
7. POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND STATUTORY BENEFITS
PCF specifically places the following issues together for discussion:
DALIT CHRISTIANS
SC STATUS → STATUTORY BENEFITS → EDUCATION → EMPLOYMENT → WELFARE → POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
The demand for restoration or extension of SC recognition to eligible Dalit Christians therefore concerns more than one benefit.
It concerns the overall constitutional and statutory framework through which historically disadvantaged communities receive protections and opportunities.
This includes the political representation framework under Articles 330 and 332.
8. PCF DEMAND FOR EQUAL POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY
PCF demands that the concerns of Christian citizens be properly considered in India’s democratic political system.
PCF seeks:
A. DALIT CHRISTIANS
Restoration/extension of SC status and associated statutory and constitutional benefits, including the political representation framework attached to SC status.
B. BC-C CHRISTIANS
Recognition and implementation of applicable BC-C welfare, educational, employment and other lawful benefits.
C. OBC CHRISTIANS
Equal access to applicable OBC benefits according to the relevant legal classification.
D. OTHER CHRISTIANS
Equal democratic opportunity without religious discrimination.
E. CHRISTIAN POLITICAL LEADERS
Fair opportunity to obtain party positions and electoral nominations based on merit, democratic participation and community representation.
9. PCF NATIONAL CHRISTIAN POLITICAL LEADERS MEETING
PCF proposes to bring Christian political leaders from across India onto one democratic platform.
The proposed meeting can include:
- Sitting MPs
- Former MPs
- MLAs
- Former MLAs
- MLCs
- Former MLCs
- Municipal representatives
- Zilla Parishad representatives
- Political-party leaders
- Christian community leaders
- Lawyers
- Academics
- Youth leaders
- Women leaders
- Dalit Christian leaders
- BC/OBC Christian leaders
- Catholic, Protestant and other Christian representatives
The purpose will be to discuss the political, constitutional and statutory concerns of Christian citizens.
10. PCF NATIONAL POLITICAL REPRESENTATION MOVEMENT
PCF proposes a peaceful and democratic movement to bring together Christian political leaders and community organisations throughout India.
OBJECTIVES
- Study Christian political representation.
- Document the number of Christian elected representatives.
- Document representation of Dalit Christians.
- Document political participation of BC/OBC Christians.
- Study the effect of SC-status exclusion on Dalit Christian political representation.
- Meet national and State political parties.
- Submit memoranda to political parties and governments.
- Conduct constitutional awareness programmes.
- Encourage qualified Christian youth to participate in politics.
- Promote peaceful democratic participation.
11. DEMAND TO POLITICAL PARTIES
PCF calls upon all national and regional political parties to consider qualified Christian leaders for appropriate political and organisational responsibilities.
PCF seeks representation of qualified Christian candidates, including candidates from:
SC-background Christian communities
BC-C Christian communities
OBC Christian communities
OC Christian communities
Roman Catholic communities
Protestant communities
Tribal Christian communities
Other Christian communities
PCF’s objective is to ensure that Christian citizens have a meaningful voice in India’s democratic institutions.
12. NO VIOLENCE — ONLY DEMOCRATIC ACTION
PCF’s movement shall remain:
PEACEFUL • CONSTITUTIONAL • DEMOCRATIC • LEGAL • NON-VIOLENT
PCF will use:
- Meetings
- Memoranda
- Conferences
- Press meetings
- Constitutional awareness programmes
- Legal representations
- Public consultations
- Peaceful demonstrations
- Dialogue with political parties
- Dialogue with elected representatives
- Lawful judicial and administrative remedies
There should be no violence, intimidation or retaliation against any political party, religious community or individual.
13. PCF NATIONAL MESSAGE
EQUAL CITIZENSHIP
EQUAL RIGHTS
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
EQUAL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
JUSTICE FOR DALIT CHRISTIANS
Christians are citizens of India.
Dalit Christians are citizens of India.
Christian citizens should have the opportunity to participate in India’s political, social and democratic institutions.
PCF therefore seeks a national democratic dialogue concerning:
SC STATUS + STATUTORY BENEFITS + POLITICAL REPRESENTATION + CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP + EQUAL CITIZENSHIP
✝️ PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS FORUM (PCF)
SERVE • PROTECT • SUPPORT • EMPOWER
National Movement for Constitutional Rights, Equal Citizenship, Justice and Democratic Political Participation of Christians in India
PCF PRINCIPLE
“Political rights are an essential part of democratic citizenship. No citizen should be denied meaningful participation in public life because of religious identity.”
PCF calls upon Christian political leaders throughout India to unite peacefully, democratically and constitutionally to raise the political, statutory and constitutional concerns of Christian citizens before political parties, governments and appropriate constitutional institutions. FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE FEEL TO CALL 9290761702. 1800 3090 777 PRESS 9 NINE FOR POLITICAL ADVICES.