Upset over atrocities against Dalits, Congress' Koraput MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria has decided to embrace Buddhism.
Mr. Sagaria, his entire family, including three brothers, will formally convert to Buddhism at a special function to be held at Burja village under Laxmipur block of Koraput district on Saturday.
The Congress MLA has filed an affidavit in this regard before Executive Magistrate, Koraput.
“The kind of discrimination being faced by people belonging to lower castes across the country has pained me a lot. People worship non-living objects while they show no regard for fellow human beings who are alive,” Mr. Sagaria told The Hindu over phone.
He said it was for the same reason that Bhimrao Ambedkar had also embraced Buddhism.
‘Return to Buddhism’
“I don’t consider embracing Buddhism as conversion. It will rather be my return to Buddhism. Remnants of Buddhist culture can be found across Koraput. I am a firm believer that my ancestors were followers of Buddhism,” he said.
Approximately 3,000 people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from Balangir, Koraput and Kalahandi districts will attend the function being organised by Mr. Sagaria.
