Uttarakhand: Mob attacks BJP MP Tarun Vijay for entering temple with Dalits

Uttarakhand BJP MP Tarun Vijay was attacked by a mob in Chakrata after he visited a temple with Dalit leaders, where entrance of backward caste people is barred.

Vijay along with Dalit activist leader Daulat Kunwar and others visited the Silgur Devta temple in the remote Punah village which is nearly 180 km from Dehradun.

BJP MP @Tarunvijay injured in an attack by mob while returning from Silgur Devta temple in Dehradun. pic.twitter.com/Gdf1nf7A1t

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 20, 2016

BJP MP Tarun Vijay received head injuries after a scuffle outside a temple in U'khand (in pic: being taken to hosp) pic.twitter.com/U7JPIRA2yA

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 20, 2016

According to a report in The Hindustan Times, he and activists were pelted with stones as they were exiting the temple. “The (upper caste) villagers of a nearby area had organised a bhandara (feast in honour of local god). The irritated villagers pelted stones when they saw the Dalit crowd coming out of temple and injured all of them,” a police official said.

The report says the MP was taken to a military hospital even as the angry locals damaged his car and pushed it into a gorge.

Vijay was backing a campaign led by Dalit activists to break centuries old tradition which forbids them to enter 349 temples of the state’s Jaunsar-Bhabar region.

As per Tarun Vijay's blog he has supported rights of OBCs and Scheduled castes.

Condemning the attack, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat ordered Garhwal Commissioner to look into the incident. "Such incidents will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the attack," Rawat said. Following the Chief minister's orders, a team of officers has left Dehradun for Chakrata. 

With agency inputs.