Protesting against liquor shop, Dalits in Rajasthan claim they've converted to Buddhism

Jodhpur: A group of dalit residents who have been protesting against the opening of a liquor shop in their locality have claimed that they have converted to Buddhism as the state administration has ignored their demand.

The residents of Sant Ravidas Colony in Bhadasia suburb of Jodhpur have been protesting for three weeks now against the liquor shop.

Some of the protesting residents have also got themselves tonsured.

Ashok Balotia, one of the protesters who shaved his head, said that they would continue their movement against the liquor shop "come what may".

"We had warned of conversion from Hinduism and since we are followers of B R Ambedkar, we have adopted Buddhism like him," he said.

Bhagwanti from the same locality said that they were ready to go to any extent to stop the opening of the liquor shop and would not settle for anything less than the cancellation of the shop licence.

District collector Vishnu Charan Mallik said that they are looking into the issue and would soon come out with a solution.

"We are up to it in order to come out with a mutually acceptable solution and hope that in a day or two, the issue would be resolved," said Mallik.