New Delhi, November 4
Thousands of Dalits, from all over the country, today embraced Buddhism at the ‘diksha ceremony’ organised by the All-India Confederation of SC/ST organisations and the Lord Buddha Club.Amid the chanting of hymns in Pali by Bhante Buddha Priya Rahul thousands of men, women and children renounced Hinduism, and “liberated” themselves from the bondage of its now riled age-old caste system.
Ramraj, convener of the ceremony, the national chairman of the confederation and the ‘president of the Lord Buddha Club embraced Buddhism along with his entire family.
He will henceforth be known as Uditraj after conversion.
Later addressing the gathering, he said: “This moment is historic one as thousands have decided to renounce the century-old Brahminical system.’’
“We have finally been ‘liberated’ from the clutches of the caste system,’’ he added.
“Although I am overwhelmed by the presence of a large number of Dalits, thousands of my supporters have been detained at various entry points to the city,’’ regretted Mr Uditraj. He said some 50,000 persons had been sent back from the railway station and thousands had been stopped at the various state borders.
Mr Uditraj said: “Buses carrying people who were on their way from Rajasthan, UP, Punjab and Haryana have been stopped by the police and some even been taken into custody.’’
Lambasting the Central Government, he said: “The Vajpayee government has unleashed terror on us through its state machinery.’’
Mr Uditraj pointed out that Buddhism preached peace and did not promote violence.
“Had all people been allowed to participate in the ceremony, there would not have been any law and order problem,’’ he claimed.
“We would have embraced Buddhism in a peaceful manner at the Ramlila ground and there would not have been any need for the police barricades all over the city,’’ he added.
“The BJP, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the RSS nexus has left no stone unturned to sabotage the ceremony,’’ Mr Uditraj
accused. UNI
