SC status to Dalit Muslims, Christians will encourage conversion: Gehlot

Claiming that extending reservation in government jobs to Dalits of minority communities would encourage conversions, Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot on Monday said the Centre had told the Supreme Court that it was “not agreeable to” granting them such rights.

Strongly opposing recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission and the Sachar Committee for reservation to Dalits of Christian and Muslim minority communities, he told a gathering at a Hindu leadership conclave here that there is no provision in the Constitution to grant reservation to Dalits who convert to other religions.

The Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment said any such step would “weaken the Hindu religion”. 

“Our government has given in writing to the Apex Court that it does not agree with the reports of the Ranganath Mishra Commission or the Sachar Committee. We won’t accord Scheduled Caste status to those who have converted. We are following the Constitution in letter and spirit,” he said.

Gehlot noted that reservation was provided to Dalits in Hindu community to uplift them socially and economically from the ill-practice of untouchability and said such a practice does not exist in Christian and Muslim communities.