NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday suspended former MLA Gyandev Ahuja after he “purified” a Ram temple in Alwar with Ganga water following a visit by Congress leader and Dalit MLA Tikaram Jully, reported PTI.
The act has drawn sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum, with the Congress calling it a “blatant display of anti-Dalit mentality” and demanding an apology from the BJP’s top leadership.
Ahuja’s actions came under fire after he sprinkled Gangajal at the temple where Jully had participated in a consecration ceremony. While the Congress slammed it as casteist, Ahuja insisted his actions were religiously motivated, not caste-driven.
“There is no caste angle,” Ahuja claimed, defending himself. “Congress leaders have no moral authority to attend such ceremonies. Their leadership questioned the existence of Lord Ram and boycotted the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. How can they now claim reverence?”
But his defense didn’t hold with the BJP either. In a swift response, the party’s state general secretary Damodar Agarwal issued a suspension order and a show-cause notice.
“As per the instructions of the BJP state president, you are suspended from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party with immediate effect,” the letter read. It also warned that Ahuja’s act amounted to “gross indiscipline” and had “tarnished the party’s image.”
Ahuja has been asked to respond within three days, after which further disciplinary action will be taken.
Meanwhile, protests erupted at the district headquarters, with Congress workers burning Ahuja’s effigies and staging demonstrations. Senior Congress leader and former CM Ashok Gehlot didn’t mince words either.
“The incident of BJP leader Ahuja sprinkling Gangajal after Leader of Opposition Jully visited the temple reflects the BJP’s ill-will towards Dalits,” said Gehlot. “Such narrow-mindedness is not acceptable in a civilised society in the 21st century. No amount of strong words can be used to condemn this.”
Jully, who represents the Alwar (Rural) seat, has yet to respond directly, but party workers say the incident has only strengthened their resolve to expose “BJP’s real face on social inclusion.”
