Patna, Nov 6 (IANS) Upbeat with the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the US, Dalit Muslims in Bihar are calling him an “American Dalit”.”We are celebrating his victory. After all, Obama is an American Dalit who belongs to a minority community. He managed to fulfil dreams of marginalised people all over the world, not only in America,” leader of All India Pasmandsa Muslim Mahaz (AIPMM) Irshadul Haque told IANS. AIPMM is an influential backward and Dalit Muslim body.

Haque, who is also the spokesperson of AIPMM, said that after Martin Luther King, an American civil rights leader, Obama is the person who can inspire Dalit and minority communities across the globe including India.

“Obama has become a powerful source of energy for Dalit Muslims and others in order to fight for their rights and empowerment,” he said, adding that Obama fought against exploitation.

He said with the victory of Obama in the oldest democratic country the US, marginalised people in the largest democracy India can now hope to become prime minister sooner or later.