Hundreds of Dalits in Rampur, a city of western Uttar Pradesh, have threatened to convert to Islam on Ambedkar Jayanti, April 14. It is their way of protesting against a proposed demolition drive by the Rampur administration. This comes months after Dalits in Meerut had threatened to convert to Islam in order to protest against denial of their rights to perform puja in a Maharshi Valmiki temple in Baghpat.
About 300 residents of Topkhana Valmiki basti in Rampur also petitioned the State Governor Ram Naik through city ADM M.P. Singh against the demolition. The ADM has already ordered a probe in this matter.
Kumar Eklavya, leader of Valmiki Basti Bachao Sangahrsh Samiti said that on Tuesday a senior officer of Rampur Nagarpalika entered their colony and informed them about the decision to demolish their homes.
Mr. Singh, however, said he would not comment before knowing the issue.
“A probe has been ordered. We will check with the concerned authorities if here is any proposal regarding demolition of the Valmiki Basti at all with the civic body,” he said.
Mr. Eklavya, however, alleged that a senior politician of the ruling dispensation wanted the Valmikis to leave the land for a shopping mall to be build there. “We were told that some influential politician wanted to build a shopping mall and that is why the municipality people want our home to be demolished,” he said.
“But we have been legally living on this land since last several decades. It was allowed to us as safai karmcharis and we have got the documents to prove it,” he added.