Anglo-Indians held a protest rally in the national capital New Delhi on Nov. 28 against the denial of special representation in parliament and state legislative assemblies, which they call an injustice to their community.
More than 17 Anglo-Indian associations from across the country participated in the rally which sought reinstatement of the parliamentary quota which was abolished by the federal government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020.
The Anglo-Indian community — people of British descent born or residing in the country — were provided special representation through a constitutional provision in 1950 when India became a republic.
The provision entitled members of the predominantly Christian community to be nominated to two seats in the Indian parliament and one each to 13 state assemblies, where they have a sizeable presence.
The Modi government, through a constitutional amendment on Jan 25, 2020, withdrew this provision. It cited the 2011 census report that said there were only 296 Anglo-Indians left in the country and were well off.
The community leaders, quoting a study by the federal ministry of minority affairs in 2013, claim there are nearly half a million Anglo-Indians in the country.
The study also revealed that the Anglo-Indians are facing financial, educational and employment backwardness and experiencing cultural erosion, they say.
Charles Dias, president of the Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations in India, said the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which has been ruling in India since 2014, was not heeding their demand despite submitting several memoranda.
“We want a separate census for the Anglo-Indian community as we were listed within the Christian community in the 2011 census,” Dias, who is a former member of parliament, said.
Benny Behanan, a member of the opposition Congress, said his party had protested the move by the government in 2020 and “will continue to support the demand of the Anglo-Indian community.”
Behanan said the Congress would raise the demand for reinstating the quota for Anglo-Indians during the ongoing parliament session.
“Injustice has been done to the Anglo-Indian community, and we are here to show our solidarity,” said Father Vincent D’Souza, vicar general of Delhi archdiocese.
The Catholic Church is “with them and will support their demand,” he said.
A.C. Michael, president of the Federation of Catholic Associations of Delhi archdiocese, said denying reservations to Anglo Indians is another way of denying rights to Christians.
“The different forms of discrimination against the Christian community have increased since Modi came to power,” he added.
