Ramai Ram, the expelled JDU leader and former minister in Bihar has said that Dalits can no longer live as second class citizens and therefore demanded a separate country named Harijanistan. Ramai Ram has been a known loyalist of Sharad Yadav.

“Constitutional rights of Dalits are being snatched and their dignity and honour hurt. Dalits cannot live in the country as a second-class citizen. We will demand Harijanistan,” News agency IANS quoted Ramai Ram as saying.

In addition to this, Ramai Ram demanded that the Dalits killed during the April 2 protests be declared as martyrs. He claimed that Ambedkar had also demanded a separate country for Dalits but had dropped it after assurances regarding special rights for Dalits. The former JDU leader reportedly said, “but then top leaders of the country provided special rights to Dalits in place of Harijanistan. Now special rights for Dalits in the constitution are under threat and Dalits are being discriminated everywhere. It will not work anymore.”

Ramai Ram’s comment comes in the wake of Supreme Court verdict which brought in safeguards under the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act and the widespread violence during protests against the verdict of the apex court.