Dalits who choose Islam or Christianity will not get the benefit of reservation: Ravi Shankar Prasad

- The difference between Dalits who choose Islam and Christianity and Dalits who become Hindus is clear

New delhi date. Saturday, February 13, 2021

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has made a very important statement in the Rajya Sabha regarding Scheduled Castes. Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Dalits who convert to Islam or Christianity will not get the benefit of reservation. At the same time, he clarified that such people cannot contest parliamentary or assembly elections from a seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

Bharatiya Janata Party member GVL Narasimha Rao questioned the law minister about other religions. In his reply, Prasad said that those who have converted to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism can contest from the seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes. At the same time, those who join this religion will also get the benefit of reservation. Ravi Shankar Prasad also spoke about the criteria for contesting elections from reserved constitutional constituencies.

The Law Minister referred to the third paragraph of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes). He said that if any person under it claims any religion other than Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist, he will not be considered a member of Scheduled Caste. At the same time, he clarified that no amendment has been proposed in the Representation Act.

In 2015, the court said that once a person leaves Hinduism and becomes a Christian, he or she faces social and economic difficulties. There is no need to give her any protection in these circumstances as she no longer belongs to the Scheduled Castes. At the same time, Prasad has made it clear that the difference between Dalits who choose Islam and Christianity and Dalits who become Hindus is clear.