Chithra Lekha, a Dalit woman who works as an auto driver, has revealed her intention to convert to Islam after facing heightened caste discrimination from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPI(M) workers.
The CPI(M) (often called CPM), she said in her Facebook post, has been continually harassing her in the name of caste. Tired of waging the lone battle, she has now made the decision to break free from the shackles of caste by converting to Islam.
Stating that she had to learn more about the religion before converting, she said she hadn’t decided when to embrace Islam yet.
“Some people have offered to help me with these learnings. But I do not wish to reveal their names here. Once I make a final decision, I will announce it publicly,” she said.
Meanwhile, she warned people against troubling her further with allegations of ‘love jihad’, adding that all she wished was to live peacefully.
Chithra Lekha made headlines after she fell into a dispute with the union leaders when working as an autorickshaw driver at Edatt in Payannur.
She had conducted agitations alleging that CPM activists are not allowing her to continue with her livelihood. Following this, some people torched her autorickshaw. Finally, Chithra Lekha shifted to a rented house at Kattambally in Kannur. But the CPM men continue to attack her in the new place too.
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Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.
