'Social justice cannot be determined by religious identity'

New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- The CPI(M) on Friday expressed serious concern over a Supreme Court judgment denying backward class reservation benefits to people converting from Hinduism to other religions and demanded Constitution amendment to ensure such benefits irrespective of religious affiliation.

In a statement, the CPI(M) Politburo said the judgment, along with an earlier Supreme Court ruling denying Scheduled Caste reservation benefits to converts to other religions, is a setback to the constitutional ideals of equality and social justice. "Social justice cannot be determined by religious identity. It must be based on the realities of historical oppression, caste discrimination and inequalities in access to education, employment and economic opportunities," it said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.