Ravidasia organisations protest across district, block roads in Hoshiarpur

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, August 10

Protesting against the demolition of Ravidas Temple in Delhi on orders of the Supreme Court, various organissations representing the Ravidas community protested at multiple places in the Hoshiarpur district, blocking traffic.

Under the banner of Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Charitable Sabha, various organisations gathered at the local Prabhat Chowk. They held a demonstration, rasing slogans against the government, and stalled the traffic. Passengers coming to Hoshiarpur had to face problems.

Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Charitable Sabha’s state president Jagdish Lal Badhan said a wave of fury had hit the Ravidas community over the decision of the Supreme Court. On receipt of information about the jam, the police reached the spot in a large number to pacify the protesters.

Badhan demanded that Shri Guru Ravidas Temple should be restored. He said a state-wide bandh had been called on August 13 by the Sadhus Sampraday Society, Punjab, over the matter.

General Secretary of BSP, Punjab, Bhagwan Das also condemned the decision of the Supreme Court. He said the entire Ravidas community would gather on a single platform and fight over the issue.

At 3 pm, people of Ravidasia community put a symbolic jam on the national highway in Dasuya. They raised slogans against the Union Government. Warning to resolve the issue before August 13, they said that if issue was not resolved, then there would be a continuous jam and their protest would be intensified.

In Chabbewal also, traffic was stalled by protesters. Two ambulances were seen stuck in the jam, which were later facilitated out of the jam by police personnel. After two hours, on a message from Guru Ravidas Sadhu Samparday, the jam was removed, deferring it till August 13.

Protesters said the Union and Delhi governments, by demolishing the ancient Guru Ravidas Temple in Tughlakabad, Delhi, on the orders of the Apex Court, had presented evidence of being anti-dalit. They said it was being being done in a planned manner at the behest of the RSS. He said the tradition and culture would not be allowed to be broken or tampered with. Similar protests were held at Tanda and Mahilpur, too.