Dalits continue to be denied entry into state temples

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: A Dalit man was allegedly denied entry into the Balachandra Basaveshwara temple in Bekkare village of Periyapatna taluk in Mysuru district on Tuesday, following which a case was registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Bettadapura police station.

This has been a regular happening in India in general and Karnataka in particular. In this case, a retired teacher Basavegowda and seven others are said to have denied entry to the Dalit man Mahadeva. Other recent cases of SC individuals being denied entry into temples include the one on October 11 when a video of a priest asking a Dalit youth to leave the temple premises went viral.

It happened in Mulkattamma temple at Nitturu of Gubbi taluk in Tumakuru district. The victim, Anith Raj from Kadaba village in the district is seen arguing with the priest. Back in mid-April, Congress bigwig and former deputy chief minister G Parameshwar said that he was still denied entry into temples on account of being a Dalit.

He lamented that he was treated like an untouchable despite his education and the various high offices he’s held. He added that temple priests slyly and covertly prevented him from entering the sanctum sanctorum.

“Mangala- arati is brought to me, but I’m not allowed to go near the deity and take mangala arati, they bring it outside to prevent me from entering the temple. Such a system exists even today in this society, what can I say?” Parameshwara had asked.

A Channadasar Dalit family of Miyapur village in Koppal district was fined ?25,000 after a twoyear-old child entered a temple in the village on September 4, 2021. The family was reluctant to approach the authorities thereafter.

In another instance, a Dalit family was denied entry into Kalleshwara temple at Kadaga village in Hassan taluk in August, 2019. Interestingly, Dalits had helped renovate the temple along with the Muzrai Department.