The party suspends former legislator after severe backlash across the state
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A hardliner Hindutva leader and former BJP legislator in Rajasthan has created a controversy by having the purification of a temple following a visit by a Dalit leader.
BJP leader and former MLA Gyandev Ahuja reportedly had Gangajal (sacred water) sprinkled at a Ram temple following a visit by Tikaram Jully, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, earlier this week.
The incident took place on Sunday after Jully attended a religious event, the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, at the Ram temple in Alwar, prompting Ahuja to order the sprinkling of Gangajal to ‘purify’ the temple, media reports reaching here said on Tuesday.
Jully expressed his outrage on social media, condemning Ahuja’s actions as a manifestation of the BJP’s deep-seated prejudice against Dalits. He said the incident was not only an attack on his faith but also an endorsement of untouchability practiced by many a BJP leader. He demanded that the chief minister and BJP state president clarify their stance on such behaviour.
Ahuja’s actions were perceived as an attempt to “purify” the temple due to Jully’s Dalit background, sparking widespread criticism. Jully expressed his outrage on social media, condemning Ahuja’s actions as an example of the BJP’s deep-seated prejudice against Dalits. He questioned whether the BJP had a problem with Dalits participating in religious ceremonies and demanded clarification from the chief minister and BJP state president.
Finding itself on the back foot, the BJP suspended Ahuja for his actions, with state general secretary Damodar Agarwal issuing a show-cause notice demanding a reply within three days. Ahuja defended his actions, claiming the temple organisers invited individuals who questioned Lord Ram’s existence, calling them “sinful” and deserving of “purification” through Gangajal.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot condemned Ahuja’s actions as a sign of the BJP’s caste bias. Congress leaders, including state president Govind Singh Dotasra, criticised the BJP, accusing the party of harbouring animosity toward Dalits, women, farmers, and labourers. Protests have erupted across the state, with Congress workers burning Ahuja’s effigy at district headquarters.
The BJP accuses Congress of amplifying a ‘non-issue’, diverting attention from more severe allegations, like the recent car accident involving former Congress official Usman Khan. Political tensions continue to run high in the state as both parties remain embroiled in disputes.
The controversy may have significant political consequences for the BJP, particularly given the substantial Dalit population in Rajasthan (around 17%) and the 34 assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Castes.
The controversy is not the first for Ahuja, who is infamous for making inflammatory remarks and initiating controversial and divisive moves that led to widespread criticism.
