Ashfaque Kayamkhani / Jaipur:
Umrao Salodia, a senior Dalit IAS officer from Rajasthan has decided to quit the job by taking VRS. At the same time he also announced before media that he has embraced Islam.
Salodia accused the state government for showing racial discrimination against him. Salodia who was contender of the post state chief secretary said, it was first time that an officer from SC/ST was aspiring for a the top bureaucratic post in the state but people in the state government could not tolerate this.
“Despite being senior most officer I was not given the post” said the disgruntled officer adding that he has applied for VRS which is my right and he has given notice to centre for the same.
On being embracing Islam, he said that he had studied the religion thoroughly and has been influenced by its teaching. ‘From now he want to be known as Muslim’. He said that from now he will be known as Umrao Khan.
“Now I will be called as Umrao Khan,” the officer said. “Being a Hindu and SC member, I was always victimised, hence I converted my religion to Muslim by reading “Kalma” in a masjid but members of my family have not changed religion,” he said. When asked whether he has any plan for re-marriage with any Muslim woman/girl, he said, “No way.
I have my family. I feel happy now, satisfied that I protested against victimisation”. Present Chief Secretary C S Rajan, who has to retire today, has been given three months extension by the Raje government.