Haryana: 100 Dalits convert to Buddhism after 113 days of protest

Around 100 Dalits from Haryana's Jind district converted to Buddhism after 113 days of protest did not deliver justice to the community. The community members said the state government didn't fulfil their demands of an ordinance in SC/ST Protection Act and CBI investigation into Jhansa gang-rape case, among others.

Dinesh Khapad, Dalit leader, said, "Haryana CM had agreed to fulfill our demands on March 7. We gave an ultimatum on May 20 that we'll convert if CM doesn't fulfill our demands in a week. So we started march towards Delhi on 27 May and converted to Buddhism at Ladakh Bhavan there on June 2. "

Jhansa gang-rape case was likened to Nirbhaya case since the victim suffered similar brutalities. The 15-year-old Dalit teenager was gang-raped and her body was brutalized by her assailants, who inserted a foreign object into her private parts that caused massive internal injuries. Her half-naked body was found from the bank of a water channel in Haryana's Jind district on January 13.

According to reports, Haryana ministers say that people are free to change religion without citing the real reasons behind their decision. Earlier, members of the Jaat community too expressed anguish against the ML Khattar-led BJP government in the state. Jaat leaders have said they won't allow BJP to hold any rally in the state ahead of the elections in the state.