Coming close on the heels of minority affairs minister Salman Khursheed's ambiguous pronouncement on quota for Dalit Christians, mainstream church bodies said it would mobilize to call the shots on speedy procurement of justice.

Catholic and Protestant bodies this week declared that it would swiftly demand the Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations for Dalit Christians from the new government.

Pointing that Dalit Christians have been deliberately ignored and their demands have fallen on deaf ears, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), affirmed its determination to voice for 20 million Dalit Christians in the country.

"The Dalit Christian issue has been ignored by successive governments and we will now be seeking reservations in government jobs, educational institutions and politics for them from the newly elected government," CBCI spokesperson Babu Joseph was quoted saying.

President of NCCI Bishop Taranath Sagar said the protestant and orthodox churches coming under its fold would join the CBCI to fight for justice. Since 20 years, despite being highlighted in media, the plights of Dalits continue, he said.

Approximately 250 million Indians (a full 25% of the population) are Dalits. 70% of India's 25 million Christians come from the "untouchable" background.

Dalit Christians are still waiting for SC status even after the Mishra Commission set by the government - to study the socio-economic and educational status - recommended extending the reservation to all Dalits irrespective of religion.

Christian leaders point that Dalit Christians have been deprived of their rights from the last fifty-nine years and further affirm their economic status does not improve by embracing Christianity.

Abraham Mathai, general secretary of the All India Christian Council, says, "The state is discriminating against people on the basis of their faith by not giving reservation.''

This week, newly elected minority affairs minister Salman Khursheed said, the quota was not the only solution to empowerment.

The minister's statement lacked confidence on the concern of Dalit Christians when he said, "reservation is not the only answer to social welfare although it is definitely time-tested and popular answer for welfare and empowerment."