AMN /
New Delhi: At least 50 Hindu Dalits today converted to Islam near Jantar Mantar in the heart of capital city. They recited Kalimah and offered Namaz along with other Muslims. They were allegedly facing persecution and boycott by upper caste Hindus in Hisar, Haryana for many years.
In a written statement, the victim families had said some of the victims have already converted to Islam in protest against the atrocities of upper caste Hindus. Last week they had announced their intention to convert to Islam.
They had been holding sit-in at Jantar Mantar for over two years seeking justice for the atrocities allegedly unleashed on them by members of Hindu Jat community in Bhagana village of Hisar district in Haryana.
“We have been facing untouchability, atrocity, boycott and gang-rape – at the root of all these problems is the Sanatani system. While living in this system, no friend from outside helps us saying it is our internal issue. We have thought that if we have to save our future, if not present, then we will have to go out of this system,” said newly convert Satish Kajla.
“The Varna system in Hindu religion allows untouchability and discrimination with men. I am against this system. The new government (of BJP) is working on special agenda and capturing constitutional institutions. They work according to the Manuwadi agenda to suppress dalits and minorities,” said Virendra Singh Bagoria of Bhagana Sangharsh Samiti
If you get justice tomorrow, will you remove this Muslim cap and go out of Islam? “Never. Never. Even if we get justice we will not return to Hindu religion,” Kajla said.
“Continuously facing untouchability, atrocities and injustice, 500 families of Bhagana (village) will convert in front of the Parliament House in New Delhi and will demand arrest of culprits and guilty officers and restoration to their homes,” Bhagana Sangharsh Samiti, a committee formed by the victim families to fight for justice, had said.
“Bhagana victims have been running from pillar to post for justice for the last four years. Despite dozens of protests, court arrests and continuous sit-in from Hisar to Jantar Mantar, the Dalits have not got justice, security and respect. Saddened with the atrocities of upper caste Hindus, some victims have converted to Islam as a mark of protest,” said the Samiti.
According to the Samiti, Khap Panchayats had boycotted 250 Dalit families and forced them to flee the village in 2011. The Jats illegally occupied 280 acres of land and stopped Dalits from using them. “When we went to lodge a complaint with the administration against the atrocities, the local police, under pressure from the upper-caste Jats, registered a case of sedition against the victims themselves and sent them to jail,” claimed Samiti. The Dalits were attacked and their minors were gang-raped, it said.
“We had to leave our village on 21 May 2012 as our life had become miserable – barbers were not cutting our hair, facing problems while travelling. Our kids were removed from schools, we were pushed out of temples, denied using pond, general stores. Khap panchayat warned that whoever maintains relations with us he will be slapped with a fine of Rs 1100,” said Virendra Singh Bagoria of Bhagana Sangharsh Samiti. Bagoria also converted to Islam.