If Hanuman Was Dalit, Let Us Manage Hanuman Temples: Dalit Protestors to Yogi Adityanath

Hundreds from the dalit community reportedly protested in Hazratganj area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, December 1. Under the banner of Dalit Utthan Samiti, the protestors organized a peaceful sit-in outside a Hanuman temple, demanding that pujaris (priests) be removed and dalits be allowed to take over puja (prayer) ceremonies and management of all Hanuman temples.

Angered over Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “Hanuman was dalit” remark, the protestors carried posters saying “Daliton ke devta bajrang bali ka mandir hamara hai (Dalit deity Bajrang Bali’s temple belongs to us)”, reported APN. A similar protest was organised in Agra earlier this week.

Vijay Bahadur, a member of the Dalit Utthan Samiti, told Dainik Bhaskar, “When CM Yogi has said himseld that Bajrang Bali belonged to the dalit community, then Dalit pujaris should be appointed in temples.”

Reportedly, CM Adityanath had said during a poll rally in Alwar, Rajasthan, “Bajrang bali hamari bharatiya parampara mein ek aise lokdevta hain jo swayam vanvaasi hai, girvasi hain, Dalit hain, vanchit hai (Hanuman was a tribal, a forest dweller, a Dalit and was deprived).” His remark has invited backlash from all sections.