Mass conversion of Dalits  

Bangalore: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister B. Basavalingappa said that the movement among the Scheduled Castes to embrace Buddhism enemas was gaining momentum as was evidenced in Bijapur. The Minister, who returned July 13 after attending a function for conversion to Buddhism of a large number of Scheduled Castes in Bijapur said that had it not for heavy downpour for hours a much larger number of persons would have embraced Buddhism on July 8. He said that there was a gathering of about 35,000 to 40,000 people and because of the rain they could not gather in one place. Only about 5,000 were able to meet in a hall where Buddhist monks from Calcutta and Bangalore Initiated them to Buddhism. The response from people belonging to Scheduled Caste who had come from different districts was spontaneous, he added. (Hindu July 15)