With an attempt to save their houses from being evacuated, more than 800 members of the Valmiki community in the Topkhana locality of UP’s Rampur district on Tuesday converted to Islam. April 14th is celebrated as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanthi. The conversion to Islam was announced on Ambedkar’s 124th birth anniversary.
According to reports, the Valmiki families were threatened by the civic authorities who allegedly marked their houses with red. The authorities decided to demolish to encourage the upcoming building for a shopping mall. It is believed that the demolition process was strongly supported by UP minister and Rampur influential person Azam Khan.
Meanwhile, Azam Khan’s spokesperson Fashat Ali Khan replied to media that this conversion will in no way change their decision on demolishing the houses. He added that occupying the public land in any form by any religion is a big crime. Most of the families which have been evacuated from government lands in the past belonged to the Muslim community.
When questioned about the situation, Chandra Prakash Tripathi the district magistrate of Rampur declined to comment.
According to a local resident of Valmiki Basti, an employee from the civic authorities visited their locality a few days ago, asking them to vacate houses. He also advised them if they change their faith and get converted to Islam they would be spared from being homeless. Valmikis said that they were forced to take up the conversion because they had witnessed that some houses belonging to the Muslim community were saved from demolition.
Avinash Tapan, another resident of the Basti who also got converted to Islam, said that the additional district magistrate had earlier come to their locality and convinced them that they would not be rendered homeless. But the residents had lost the patience to wait and see what would happen. Moreover, they expected a written assurance from the concerned authorities which was not provided. So they were left with no other option but getting converted to Islam.
The Valmikis also called a cleric from Amroha to help them perform the rituals. But he never turned up. So they wore the skull caps and self- announced that they are here after to be considered as Muslims.
They claimed that a real conversion does not require any special event or presence of a religious leader. If anyone who has faith in that religion and chant the ‘qalma’ can be easily converted to that religion. Valmikis added that they too believe that Mohammed was the Last prophet of God.
As the announcement came up, the State Government alerted police force to take measures to prevent any untoward incident.