153 Sacked Workers Demand Reinstatement or Threaten to Leave Sanatan Dharma En Masse

More than 150 daily wage employees of Chanderi Municipality threaten to renounce Sanatan Dharma after being sacked. They demand reinstatement within 10 days, citing pressure from local officials.

Over 150 daily wage workers from Chanderi Municipality in Madhya Pradesh's Ashoknagar district have announced plans to abandon Sanatan Dharma and adopt another religion after Diwali. This decision comes as a protest against their recent dismissal from service. They are urging Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to intervene and demand their reinstatement within 10 days.

The employees, numbering 153, approached the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office on Tuesday. They sought permission for a mass conversion, claiming their dismissal was orchestrated by the local MLA, municipal chairman, vice chairman, and several councillors. This action has left their families facing severe hardship.

Conversion Warning and Official Response

Chanderi SDM Shubhrata Tripathi responded to their conversion threat by stating, "No competent authority will allow this. It is your discretion." The workers' application highlighted that their removal was decided during a special municipal meeting on September 23.

Satyam Mishra, one of the affected employees, informed reporters that 12 out of 16 councillors supported their dismissal under pressure from the local MLA. Most of these workers have served for many years, with over 95% being followers of Sanatan Dharma.

Demands for Reinstatement

Mishra emphasised that if they are not reinstated within the next 10 days, they will be compelled to renounce Sanatan Dharma collectively and embrace other religions. He expressed that this decision was made reluctantly and held the local MLA, municipal chairman, vice chairman, and councillors accountable for their plight.

The workers are urging the Chief Minister to take action. They warned that without appropriate measures, they would proceed with mass conversion after Diwali. The Indian Constitution's Article 25 guarantees freedom of religion but prohibits forcing religious beliefs on others.

The employees' plea underscores the urgency of their situation. They hope for swift intervention to prevent drastic measures affecting their religious identity and livelihoods.

With inputs from PTI