Thousands of Indian Christians march for Christian dalits' rights

Published: 2007-07-12

HYDERABAD, India (CNS) -- Escalating a six-decade struggle, thousands of Christians protested discrimination against dalit, or low-caste, Christians in marches throughout the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Participants in the July 9 march through the headquarters of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts were urging the federal government to introduce a bill to extend equal rights to dalit Christians when Parliament begins its session in late July, reported Asian church news agency UCA News. They also were calling for the government to immediately implement the recommendations of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The commission recommends reserving 10 percent of government jobs for Muslims and 5 percent for other religious minorities. The marchers highlighted their demands through placards, slogans and speeches. Leaders submitted a memorandum addressed to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the offices of district collectors, the highest local civil officials.

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