'Republican Samaj Party' to enter political arena

Mumbai, Mar 29 (UNI) Ahead of next year's assembly elections in the state, the Maharashtra Bhikkhu Sangh, an association of Dalit Buddhist monks, has decided to enter the political arena by floating the ''Republican Samaj party'' a regional outfit.

''The new party will work for the betterment of society and all castes,'' the working president of the Sangh, Nandbodhi Mahathero, announced here today.

He told a press conference that political parties that were started with the intention of uplift of the dalits had 'betrayed' them and their leaders had joined hands with other political parties for their personal benefits.

Meanwhile, Dalit Buddhist monks will be organising a ''Sanghraj Sangharsh Yatra'' all over Maharashtra from April 15 onwards to protest the death of 76-year-old Dalit Buddhist monk Bhante Sanghraj at Chembur here on January 6 and 'ineffectiveness' of the city police in arresting and punishing the culprits.

''The rally will start on April 15 and will continue till the culprits are punished,'' he added.

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