Orissa Dalits hope to enter Jagannath temple
"We want to reiterate that it’s our constitutional right to enter the temple like others and pray. We want to do it in a peaceful way. If anyone tries to prevent us, it’s up to the administration to deal with them," said Rajkishore Muduli, Dalit Leader, Keredagarh.
With local groups politicising the issue, things have become complicated. A pro-Dalit body plans to hold a rally of around 20,000 people on Sunday.
But upper caste leaders from outside who have been camping in the village say they will not allow the Dalits to enter the temple.
"We are opposed to their entry. We want caste-based discrimination to go from our constitution, polity and education. Only then we will allow them entry. We have decided to block all routes and even sleep on the roads to ensure the rally doesn’t enter the village," said Seshdev Nanda, Leader, Uchcha Jaati Vikash Parishad.
Orissa Dalits hope to enter Jagannath temple
You know, I was going to write a tribute in honor of the Travancore temple entry proclamation, whose anniversary was November 12. But because of events like this, I cannot in good conscience do so.
Shame.
