Friday, February 4, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Dalit forum questions CPI(M)'s stance

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article1156417.ece

KOTTAYAM, February 4, 2011
Dalit forum questions CPI(M)'s stance
Staff Reporter

Party supporting Dalit Christians to mobilise votes, say DCFI leaders

The Dalit Christian Federation of India (DCFI) has expressed about
about the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s stance, affirming
solidarity with the longstanding demands of Dalit Christians on
reservation and social discrimination.

DCFI general secretary Joseph Panamoodan told mediapersons here on
Friday that while they welcomed the declarations at a recent
convention of Dalit Christians here, they could be viewed only as a
move to mobilise Dalit Christian votes for the coming Assembly
elections. "This strategy is the same as that of the Congress, which
had done this for long, and it is objectionable," he said.

Mr. Panamoodan said that the LDF government, in the past four years,
had not earmarked any funds in the budget for the uplift of Dalit
Christians. Dalit Christian students had committed suicide since they
could not secure education loans. The government should shoulder the
entire education cost of Dalit Christians, he said.

Mr. Panamoodan also called upon the CPI(M) to take the lead in
bringing the Dalit Christians to the mainstream by allotting the
Puthuppally, Thiruvalla, Kaduthuruthy, Kuttanad and Kottayam seats to
the community's candidates as they have a dominant presence in these
areas.

Dichotomy alleged

The DCFI leaders pointed out the "dichotomy in the stance of the
CPI(M)," which on the one hand took a studied stance against identity
politics, but on the other, convened separate conventions of dalit
Christians and Scheduled Tribes community to mobilise political
support.

They said the Dalit community would no longer blindly accept the
hollow promises being made by political parties with an eye on vote
bank.


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