Dalit Shiva devotees enter temple, thanks to authorities

Mahbubnagar: A section of upper caste leaders at Siddotam village under Nawabpet mandal in the district on Saturday forced Dalit Shiva devotees, who are on ‘deeksha,’ from the local Shiva temple.

The leaders allegedly cut power and water supply to the temple to force the devotees out of the temple. Yadaiah, lingam, Naresh, Machandar and Sharath, all Dalit devotees, who are on ‘deeksha,’ were saying prayers in the Shiva temple.

It was alleged that some of the upper cast community youths disconnected power line to the temple, denied water and even objected to entry of the Dalit Shiva swamis.
“We were told not to enter the temple without priest and they disconnected the power line and also objected using water from the borewell,” said the devotees.

On knowing about the cast-based discrimination in the village, some of Dalit Associations along with local Tahasildar and Sub- Inspector of Police visited the village on Saturday and tried to resolve the controversy through discussion between the members of two communities and finally allowed the Shiva Swamis into the Temple.

When contacted with Nawabpet Tahasildar about the issue, “After knowing about the issue of cast discrimination in Siddotam village, we immediately went to the village along with police sub-inspector and spoke to the local villagers, youth from other communities and the Sarpanch.

They said that there is no problem. We have asked them to restore the power and also directed the Sarpanch to provide water facility to the temple immediately. We have also warned of action if such complaints of discrimination arise again.”