Around 800 Dalits (formerly known as 'untouchables'), comprising those of Christian, Hindu and Buddhist background, joined together this week in a protest at Parliament Street, New Delhi, India. Hundreds of Dalits called for the Indian government to provide Dalit Christians with the same rights as other Dalits, Christian Today has been told.

While applauding the positive reforms of India's United Progressive Alliance government, they also called upon the government to guarantee the protection of the Christian minority which has experienced widespread violence throughout 2006, Christian Solidarity Worldwide has reported.

Such violence has been particularly acute in states ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where police have often been inactive or even complicit in the attacks.

The rally was organised by the All India Christian Council (AICC) and the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations. Leaders Dr Joseph D'souza and Dr Udit Raj sent a joint memorandum outlining their concerns to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Party leader, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

CSW's Advocacy Director, Alexa Papadouris, said, "We fully support the requests made by the leaders of this rally. This demonstration of solidarity between Dalits of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian background shows that this is a matter of concern not only to Christians but to the whole Dalit community. It also disproves the assumption that Hindu Dalits do not support equal rights for Dalit Christians.

"We urge the Indian government to do all it can both to end restrictions on the religious freedom of Dalits resulting from its unequal reservation policy and state-level anti-conversion laws, and to protect Dalit Christians from violent attacks often committed with impunity."