Rajasthan IAS Umrao Salodia quits, converts to Islam

Umrao Salodia a dalit Indian Administrative Service officer said he has applied for Voluntary Retiring Service (VRS) and given three months notice.

In response to being overlooked for the position, Salodia has chosen to convert to Islam as he views it as a religion of equality.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Raje and department of personnel under Union Home ministry on Thursday, Salodia said, “For the first time after independence of the country, myself, an IAS officer from SC & ST category would have been appointed today (Dec 31) as chief secretary of Rajasthan on the basis of seniority”.

Umrao Salodia, is now chairman of Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, a state government undertaking that employs over 20,000 employees, but is running into losses. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje was also not inclined to make any officer as chief secretary who has only a few months to retire. “However my retirement is due June 2016”, he said.

Addressing a press conference here, Salodia said he faced discrimination since he is a Dalit, adding that he would embrace Islam.

Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore dismissed Mr Salodia’s claims. “Earlier also, similar extensions were given to officers like Govind Mishra, M L Mehta and Anil Vaishya”, he said. “Mr Salodia’s allegations are baseless”.

“As far as the extension of Chief Secretary for three months is concerned, it was done after the state government forwarded a proposal to Centre under rules”.

“IAS officer Umrao Salodia is going to retire after six months”. Salodia said that he was highly impressed by the teachings of Islam and from now onwards he will be known as Umrao Khan.

“The government will get the matter investigated and will take a disciplinary action against Mr Salodia based on the results of the investigation”, Mr. Rathore said. “In an FIR lodged at Gandhi Nagar police station in 2014, neither the police has filed the final report nor any action has been taken”.

“Being a Hindu and SC member, I was always victimised. Hence I converted to Islam by reading “Kalma” in a mosque but members of my family have not changed their religion”, he said.