The BJP leadership in Rajasthan has suspended controversial leader Gyadev Ahuja from the party and issued a reason when he sprinkled ‘Ganga water’ in a temple in Alwar, to ‘purify’ the campus after Congress leader Tikram Julli, participated in a Dalit, a Dalit, a concertion of the temple.
The stunt of Gyanadev Ahuja’s ‘refinement’ was not determined to harm its possibilities in eastern Rajasthan, where Dalit voters play an important role, the state leadership has sent a notice to Mr. Ahuja. The notice issued by BJP MP and senior Rajasthan leader Damodar Aggarwal has sought clarification from Mr. Ahuja within three days. Notice warns that if the former MLA does not send his response to the state party chief Madan Rathore within three days, he will face disciplinary action.
“While taking primary membership of the party, you took an oath that you would not discriminate on the basis of caste, gender and religion. But you sprinkled ‘Gangjal’ to oppose Tikram Jali.
Visits a temple, and ‘purification’
A temple in Alwar, Rajasthan, celebrated its consecration ceremony on Ramnavamy on Sunday. Among those who attended the event were Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and Congress MLA Tika Ram Julli thrice from Alwar Rural. Earlier, Mr. Ahuja said that the temple would be “impure” when “his feet” enter the temple and “his hands touch the deity”. The next day, he sprinkled ‘Gangjal’ and performed ‘Pooja’ to ‘purify’ the temple. A video of doing so went viral. When Congress leaders pointed to the Dalit background of Mr. Tully and said that Mr. Ahuja’s actions reflect his casteism mentality, the BJP leader said that he is a “supporter” and his work was against the Congress mindset. “I have no personal enmity against Tika Ram Jully. I also went to meet him on his birthday. But Congress Ram Setu says fictional, then why do he come to the temple?” He said.
How did Congress react
Mr. Julie said that Mr. Ahuja’s comment shows BJP’s views on Dalits. “This is not only an attack on my faith, but a statement that encourages a crime like untouchability. Has the BJP hate the Dalits so much that they cannot see us ‘worship’? Is God only related to BJP leaders?” He asked.
Congress veteran and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said “Such a narrow mentality is unacceptable in a civilized society in the 21st century”. “Do Rajasthan Chief Minister and State BJP President approve of such conduct by a senior leader? Will the BJP take action against its leader for this low act?”
Senior Congress MP Jeram Ramesh said that the functions of BJP leaders insulted Lord Ram’s ideals. “The BJP leadership should apologize for this shameful incident.”
Not the first time
Gyandev Ahuja, who served as Ramgarh MLA from 2013 to 2018, is not a stranger for controversies. He first made headlines during the line on the “anti -national” slogans raised in JNU in 2016 in 2016. Mr. Ahuja had said that 3,000 condoms and 2,000 liquor bottles were found in the JNU campus every day.
He also defended the killing of Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer, Pehlu Khan by cow vigilance in 2017. “We should not take the law into our hands. But we have no regrets on his death because people who are cow-dhooman are cow-trails, sinners like them have met first and will continue to do so.” He also said that the smuggling of cows should be killed.
