India: resignation of a minister from the Delhi region amid religious conversion

Buddhist monks, draped in saffron robes, and Hindu Dalits sit during a mass conversion ceremony to Buddhism in Mumbai, May 27, 2007. Thousands of tribal and low-caste Hindus, seeking freedom from oppression in India's hierarchical caste system, embraced Buddhism in mass conversion.

(Illustrative photo).

AFP - SAJJAD HUSSAIN

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In India, a minister from the Delhi region has just resigned, after being accused by Hindu nationalists of sowing hatred against Hindus.

The chosen one took part last week in a gathering of Buddhists, during which hundreds of low-caste Hindus converted to the religion of the Buddha.

A fact that particularly disturbs Hindu nationalists.

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With our correspondent in New Delhi

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The ceremony brings together thousands of people in the capital last Wednesday.

On the stage, Buddhist monks and a singer who calls the public to “ 

 ”.

These spectators are low-caste Hindus, discriminated against in Hinduism.

And they recite the promises of conversion, which commit them to no longer recognize the Hindu gods.

It is these promises that disturb the Hindu nationalist party of the BJP, in power at the federal level.

This one affirms that not to recognize these gods represents an “

”.

These Hindus accuse MP Rajendra Pal Gautam, who sang this song, of spreading this hatred.

But this politician, who is a regional minister opposed to the BJP, and himself a Buddhist, refutes: the promises recited here, he says, were written by one of the framers of the Indian Constitution, Bhimrao Ambedkar, and are repeated in India for years.

In addition, the constitution, he concludes, guarantees freedom of worship.

However, this minister resigned so as not to hamper the campaign of his Aam Admi party in another region.  

आज @arvindkejriwal जी को सुनने Gujarat के दाहोद में उमड़ी ऐसी बंपर कि पंडाल पंडाल छोटा गया गया 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥#Gujaratwithaap pic.twitter.com/wtfrnuxvxa

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 8, 2022

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