Allegations about dalits being purportedly abused and barred from entering the Kukursi temple at Gabela village in Jaunsar Bhabar in the recent past are totally baseless. Those with political ambitions and those interested in carrying out religious conversion are behind distortion of facts to defame the Jaunsar Bhabar region, said Jaunsar Bhabar Mahasabha head Munna Rana.
Addressing the media at the Press Club here on Friday, Rana said, “I had refrained from making any statement on the Gabela incident earlier till now, a couple of days after visiting Gabela to ascertain the facts. The dispute on alleged casteism is based on lies through which those behind this conspiracy trying to misguide the media, administration, the Governor, Union Home minister and even the prime minister. In fact, the villagers neither beat the dalit family nor imposed Rs 501 fine on them. On that day, Ghauna resident Daultu had visited Gabela with his daughter and son in-law to pay obeisance at the temple. After visiting the shrine, his daughter and son in-law returned to Daultu who was standing outside. Some villagers asked him about the duo accompanying him and on being introduced, they questioned why he was not visiting the temple when his family members had done so.
An argument ensued after which Daultu’s son in-law placed Rs 10 on the temple’s boundary as a token of apology to Kukursi and that note is still there. Neither was any dalit assaulted by the villagers nor were they made to pay Rs 501 fine but after meeting a person claiming to be a dalit leader, some people conspired to use lies and exaggerations to defame the Jaunsar-Bhabar region. This is spreading an atmosphere of anxiety and feeling of mutual discord in the region. Jaunsar-Bhabar is a tribal area where old beliefs and traditions are still practiced. About 12 years ago, the society here unanimously opened the biggest Mahasu Devta temple in Hanol for members of all sections of society. However, those with political ambitions and missionaries attempting religious conversion of the tribal populace have distorted facts to spread canard about dalit abuse in Jaunsar Bhabar.” Rana further said that those claiming to be well wishers of the backward and dalits should focus on the real issues like the deteriorating state of education, health services and the demand for making Jaunsar-Bhabar a district. He said that the Jaunsar Bhabar Mahasabha will conduct a public awareness campaign in the region from December.