Dalits should have control over Hanuman temples, says Bhim Army chief

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad on Saturday said that if Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath thought that Hanuman was a Dalit then the community should “lay siege” to Hanuman temples.

Leading a Bhim Army protest over “wrongful arrest” of Dalits after April 2 Bharat Bandh violence in Muzaffarnagar Azad said, “Now Hanuman temples should have Dalit priests and the donations should be forwarded to the Dalit community.”

Bhim Army activists staged a protest in the compound of the collectorate in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday to demand immediately release of Dalit leaders who are languishing in Muzaffarnagar's jail in connection with the April 2 violence. Azad and his followers handed over a demand letter to the administration addressed to CM Yogi Adityanath.

Azad told mediapersons, “If the CM thinks Lord Hanuman was a Dalit then the community should lay siege to Hanuman temples, which should have Dalit priests. Donations should be given to the Dalit community because if Hanuman ji is our ancestor then we should have the right to keep all donations and have control of temples.” Azad till recently had the suffix of ‘Ravan’ attached to his name, as a mark of protest against what he called anti-Dalit attitudes of the upper castes.

Speaking on his visit to Ayodhya Azad said, “Muslims and Dalits in Ayodhya live in fear. Therefore I visited the city and asked the administration to protect them.”

Azad also announced a future agitation across the country. “We have started from Muzaffarnagar and will stage a protest in Delhi and across the country in the coming days,” he said.

Two weeks ago Azad had a meeting with those imprisoned in Muzaffarnagar jail after the April 2 violence. The organization had threatened a massive protest if the persons were not released soon. After the April 2 violence, more than 50 people were sent to jail and 42 cases were registered in four police stations.