BJP ally Ramdas Athawale hits out at cow vigilantes, asks Mayawati why she is still a Hindu

"If she is a true Ambedkarite, then why is she still a Hindu?" Athawale said targeting Mayawati.

Written by: Mohammed Uzair Shaikh

Updated: July 30, 2016, 9:05 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/bjp-ally-ramdas-athawale-hits-out-at-cow-vigilantes-asks-mayawati-why-she-is-still-a-hindu-1370161/ Copy

New Delhi, July 30: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally and an influential Dalit politician Ramdas Athawale lashed out at the self-styled cow vigilantes, accusing them of spreading hooliganism, in the name of gau raksha. Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (RPI-A) also condemned Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, accusing her of paying only lip service to Ambedkar. “If she is a true Ambedkarite, then why is she still a Hindu?”

Athawale, who enjoys the Minister of State rank in Ministry of Social Justice, stated that the Una incident is extremely serious in nature, and the government should take strict action to stop such cow vigilantes from persecuting Dalits. (ALSO READ: Narendra Modi’s silence on Dalit assault is devaluation of Prime Minister’s post: Congress)

“If you do hatya (murder) in the name of gau raksha, then who will do manav raksha,” Athawale said while speaking to The Indian Express.

Athawale showed a skeptical approach towards Mayawati, indicating that she is only playing with the sentiments of Dalits. Athawale demanded her to convert herself into a Buddhist to prove her true Dalit credentials. Athawale claimed that Mayawati would keep criticising Manuwad (the school of thought within Hinduism which advocates Brahmin supremacy), but would herself never leave the ambits of Hinduism. “Why is she not a Buddhist if she claims to be a true Ambedkarite?”