“When dalit members of the group proposed that everyone should be allowed inside the temple, ‘upper class women in majority’ objected and said they would rather not construct the temple at all,” Kopila Nepali said.

TEK NARAYAN BHATTARAI

PALPA, Dec 31: Construction of a temple being built by Mothers´ Group has been stopped midway after dalit members of the group demanded entry to the temple.

Dalit members of the Rajeshwari Mothers´ Group have complained construction of a Rs 200,000 Shiva temple has been stopped by the majority women of the ´upper class´. The money was raised by the group through different programs with active participation of dalit members.

“When dalit members during a meeting of the group proposed that everyone should be allowed inside the temple, they objected and said they would rather not construct the temple at all,” Kopila Nepali, a dalit member of the group, said. Nepali said there was a heated discussion on the topic.

“We all collected Rs 200,000 with much difficulty and collectively decided to construct the temple. But they said we wouldn´t be allowed entry?” rued Nepali. “What kind of justice is this in new Nepal?” she asked.

Another dalit member, Sunita Sunar, expressed dejection at being denied entry to a temple being constructed with her involvement despite abolition of caste system by the law. “Who will not feel hurt by such injustice?” Sunar bemoaned.

News source: MyRepublica.com, 2009-12-31 22:18:06