Saharanpur Dalits threaten to renounce ‘Hinduism’

The Dalits are a prominent section of the Hindu community in India. Yet, there are allegations that the Dalit community is not getting the kind of importance it deserves. In the past, a renowned Dalit freedom fighter and intellectual, Dr B R Ambedkar, left the Hindu community, raising similar allegations. He was instrumental in initiating a popular anti-caste movement, the Dalit Buddhist Movement. It seems that the Dalits of Saharanpur village, in which several incidences of the Thakur-Dalit clashes were reported, is following the step shown by their dearest leader by threating to convert to Buddhism.

The detention of the radical Dalit outfit Bhim Army’s leader, Advocate Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, by the force controlled by the UP government which is led by a member of Thakur community, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is considered by many Dalits as a provocation. Last day, the Bhim Army organised a protest at the Jantar Mantar, demanding the release of their leader. As per the report, as a protest to the growing violence against the Dalits, nearly 180 families are threating to leave the Hindu community and embrace the Buddhism. While speaking to the media persons, the persons belonging to the Dalit community have reportedly alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is purposefully targeting the people belonging to their community unfairly. Their prime allegation is that those people who treated them as the Hindus during the elections are not considering them as the same now. Observers claim that it is a clear indication that some sections of the Dalits are unhappy under the UP’s new regime.

Vignesh

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