Rajasthan BJP expels ex-MLA who ‘purified’ temple after Dalit Congress leader’s visit
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday expelled former MLA Gyandev Ahuja after he conducted a “purification” ritual at a temple in Rajasthan’s Alwar following a visit by Dalit Congress leader Tika Ram Jully, The Indian Express reported.
Jully, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, had visited the temple on the Hindu festival of Ram Navami earlier this month to attend a consecration ceremony, PTI reported.
Following Jully’s visit, Ahuja performed a “purification” ritual at the temple on April 7, claiming that the Congress leader was “anti-Hindutva” and “anti-Sanatan”.
Sanatana Dharma is a term some people use as a synonym for Hinduism.
“This is a Lord Shri Ram temple at whose feet I have sprinkled Gangajal [water from the Ganga river],” the former MLA from Ramgarh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “Why Gangajal? Because some impure people came.”
In response to his actions, the BJP on Sunday said that its state president Madan Rathore had “given an order to terminate the primary membership of former MLA Gyandev Ahuja after indiscipline was proved against him”.
The BJP added that its state disciplinary committee had submitted a report about the incident to Rathore, The Indian Express reported. Ahuja had appeared before the committee on Sunday.
Jully is the first Dalit politician in the state to become the leader of the...
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