'Ten lakh Dalits likely to embrace Buddhism'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 8. Mr. Ram Raj, national chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, said that there was "overwhelming" response to the Confederation's call to Dalits to embrace Buddhism. The Confederation expected ten lakh Dalits from all over the country to become Buddhists at a rally at Ram Lila grounds in Delhi on November 4.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Raj said that as part of the mobilisation process during the last few months, forms were distributed to a large number of SCs for taking their consent. The Confederation has already collected a sizable number of them. The idea behind making Dalits embrace Buddhism was to eliminate the caste system and establish a non-sectarian society. With no caste hierarchy, the Buddhist philosophy alone can bring about social harmony and evoke nationalist feelings, he added.

Responding to a question he said there was no contradiction in seeking elimination of caste system and continuation of reservations. "As long as there is discrimination based on caste, we want reservations". Will Dalits lose the benefit of reservation once they join Buddhism? It would not be the case, he contended.

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Section  : Southern States
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