At a time when ghar wapsi or re-conversion by Hindutva organisations is making headlines, as many as 96 Hindus from Jamalpur village in Sardhana block of Meerut have decided to convert to Islam, protesting against an upper caste move to not allow them to worship at a local shrine.
Dalit families from Valmiki community say they not being allowed to worship at the Valmiki ashram, 12 km away in Balini, Baghpat district.
"This is an ashram built to honour Valmiki, the sage who wrote Ramayana. But we, who are members of the community, which is named after him, are not allowed access. We wanted to take out a procession through the neighbourhood with a palanquin, which would end up at the temple, on October 8 last year. But Brahmin priest Dakshdev Anand at the temple said this can't be allowed since we are bhangis and clean filth, human excreta and carcasses of nimals," Shyam Singh, a Valmiki community member, told dna.
The families, led by community activist Prem Nath Dhingra, sought the intervention of the police and the district administration. "But like the Brahmins, the Yadav community, from which most police and district administration officials hail from, only take our complaints but do nothing.
"In fact, the local authorities even laughed at our 20-strong group, taunting, 'Next you will ask to be allowed inside our mansions too.' We don't think we can hope for justice from them," Dhingra told dna.
"This is not a new demand. It was first raised 64 years ago by then local MP Buland Kanhiyalal Valmiki in the same session that recognised the Constitution in Parliament. It's a travesty that we're still fighting for the same demand," Dhingra said.
Fed up, the community has thrown an ultimatum that has thrown everyone into a tizzy.
"If we are are not given dignified access to the Valmiki temple, we will convert to Islam on January 26," Dhingra said in a letter to the administration.
"The Constitution, drafted by our leader Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, allows us freedom to practice whatever religion we want. If upper caste Hindus want to continue to treat us like dirt, we want to tell them that we have options which we will exercise," he said.
After a series of meetings with representatives of the Jama Masjid in Delhi, local netas and babus have swung into action.
Local MP Rajinder Aggarwal and Yogi Adityanath of Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh (also MP from Gorkahpur) have already visited the small hamlet, asking the Dalits to reconsider their decision.
Meerut collector Pankaj Yadav, who called all parties for a meeting on Friday, told dna, "We have told them to give up this idea. I am sure the Valmikis will agree. These things take time and putting pressure will not solve their problem. Our priority is law and order. I have asked the deputy collector and SP to keep an eye on the situation, given its sensitive implications."
Temple priest Dakshdev Anand seemed in no mood to relent. He told dna, "They should be happy we allow them into the temple precincts. What more do they expect?"
Repeated attempts to reach UP CM Akhilesh Yadav on the issue drew a blank.
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