There is an outrage among the Dalits (Valmiki) after the Hathras rape case and seeing the soft corner for rapists among the Government and the administration. Discussion among the Valmiki community for conversion into Buddhism is going on in full swing. Valmikis are being under seige in Aligarh, Hathras, Bulandshahr etc. Just as the Valmikis of Ghaziabad have embraced Buddhism, in the same way, there is also the fragrance of conversion to Buddhism here also.
Valmikis say that due to the extremely backward society, the high society still looks at us in a doubtful vision even after 70 years. Therefore, they have made it a decision to leave the Valmiki community and adopt Buddhism. This has started in Ghaziabad. It may be recalled that a dalit girl was raped in Hathras by four upper caste men after which the victim's family was being accused of honour killing because of which they are also thinking to adopt Buddhism.
Hurt by Hathras incident, on 14th October, in the area of Karheda village of Sahibabad, 236 people of 50 Valmiki have embraced Buddhism in a program chaired by the great-grandson of Bhimrao Ambedkar Mr. Raj Ratan Ambedkar.
Pawan Budh, who first adopted Buddhism in Karheda, alleged that the victim’s family is being tortured in the Hathras case.