AGRA: Encouraged by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claiming Hanuman a Dalit during an election rally in Rajasthan’s Alwar, Dalits in Agra wanted to take over management of all Hanuman temples across the country.
At least 30 Dalits headed by Congress leader Amit Singh on Thursday reached the Hanuman temple at Langre ki Chowki on Delhi-Kanpur Highway. They were wearing ‘janeu’ (sacred thread) and reciting ‘Hanuman chalisa’ and shouting slogans like ‘Dalit devta Hanuman ki jai’ (long live Dalit god Hanuman).
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“Bhagwan Ram aur Hanuman ji ke yug mein, iss desh mein koi jaati-vyavastha nahi thi, koi dalit, vanchit, soshit nahi tha. Valmiki Ramayan aur Ramcharitmanas ko aap agar padhenge to aapko malum chalega ki uss samay koi jaati-vyavasthan nahi thi. Hanuman ji arya theyy. Iss baat ko maine spasht kiya hai, uss samay arya jaati thi aur Hanuman ji usi arya jaati ke mahapurush theyy,” the Union Minister was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
During a poll rally on November 28, Adityanath had said,, Adityanath said: “Bajrang Bali was a tribal, a forest dweller, a Dalit and was deprived. He worked to connect all Indian communities together, from north to south and east to west.” He added that those who are Ram Bhakts would vote for the BJP while those who worship Ravana would vote for the Congress.
The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on December 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 11.