Persecution Watchdog Welcomes India Mishra Commission Report

Persecution watchdog, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has welcomes the release of a long-awaited report whose recommendations could signal an end to religious discrimination in the system of 'reservation' for Dalits in India.

The report by the Justice Ranganath Mishra National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities was submitted to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday. It recommends that membership of the Scheduled Castes should cease to be linked to religious status.

Under the recommendations, Dalits - who are formerly known as 'untouchables', and known officially as the Scheduled Castes - who embrace Christianity or Islam would not lose their eligibility for the government's system of 'reservation'.