Identify temples where Dalits can't enter: Ram Vilas Paswan tells Centre

LJP supremo Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday condemned the attack on BJP MP Tarun Vijay for leading Dalits into a temple in Dehradun recently and urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to identify temples and public places where their entry is prohibited.

"We will request Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to get the work done on identification of temples and public places where Dalits and women are prohibited and if necessary, central forces should be deployed at such places," Paswan told reporters, referring to the recent Supreme Court order that allowed women to enter temples.

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, who was accompanied by party's Parliamentary Board chairman Chirag Paswan, said a case of conspiracy to kill Vijay should be registered and speedy trial conducted in the matter.

A mob had on May 20 attacked Vijay and Dalit leaders for visiting a temple in Chakrata in Dehradun where entry of Dalits is prohibited. Paswan said he would take up the matter with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

"After so many years of Independence and laws against untouchability, Dalits are still prohibited from entering temples and if someone like Tarun Vijay, who is an MP, tries to take Dalits into temples, he is attacked," Paswan said.

The minister said steps should be taken to ensure entry of Dalits into temples and public places where from they are, at present, prohibited.