Dalit leader threatens mass conversion to Islam over assault case in Gujarat

Rajesh Solanki, a Dalit Congress leader, announced that he, along with his family and other Dalits, will likely convert to Islam if the BJP government in Gujarat does not seek the resignation of BJP MLA Geetaba Jadeja and the arrest of her husband, Jayrajsinh, a former three-time MLA, whose son allegedly assaulted Solanki and his son.

Rajesh Solanki, president of the Congress’s Junagadh city SC/ST cell, has given the BJP government an ultimatum until August 15 to act on his demand.

This demand follows an incident on May 31, when Geetaba's son, Jyotiradityasinh, allegedly kidnapped and assaulted Solanki’s son, Sanjay. According to the complaint, Sanjay was taken to Gondal in Rajkot district after a disagreement over driving. There, he was stripped, forced to apologize at gunpoint, and the incident was recorded.

The Gujarat police have booked Jyotiradityasinh for the alleged kidnapping and he has been arrested. However, Solanki insists on further actions, including the resignation of the MLA and the arrest of her husband, to address what he views as a systemic issue of injustice towards Dalits.

Should there be no response, he plans to organize a large rally in Gandhinagar, where memorandums will be submitted to the Chief Minister, Governor, and BJP president. The protest aims to secure justice for the Dalit community.

Failing governmental action, Solanki and many others in the community are prepared to convert to Islam, expressing their disillusionment with a system that they feel continues to marginalize and oppress them.