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DATE: December 19, 2005
TAMPA, FL - The Hindu American
Foundation (HAF) expresses deep disapproval of the barring
of entry to Scheduled Caste (Dalit) worshippers of the Jagannath
temple in Keraragard, a village in the Indian state of Orissa.
Newspaper reports say four Dalit women who entered the temple
were beaten and later fined $22.24 by the village council
("Dalit
Women Attacked / Fined for Entering Temple"). "This
reprehensible and archaic tradition of disallowing Dalits
into Hindu temples should be ended, and the District and
State bureaucrats as well as politicians should be held accountable
for the continuing practice of such illegal and unconstitutional
acts," said Ramesh Rao, one of HAF's Executive
Council members.
Sebati Muduli, Annapurna Mahali, Jharana Jena and Sakuntala
Muduli - the four women who entered the temple -- should
be provided immediate legal redress by the authorities. The
village council's decree penalizing the women so that
the village can spend the money on "temple purification
rituals" is of utmost cruelty and the village council
members who arrived at the decision should be immediately
reprimanded for their illegal order. "While the police
say they are probing the incident, it is urgent that these
cases of discrimination be dealt with expeditiously and in
a rigorous manner," said Dr. Mihir Meghani, President,
Hindu American Foundation. "It ill-behooves India to
allow such wanton acts of dehumanization in this day and
age," said Dr. Meghani.
HAF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting
the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance
and pluralism. |
