The Dalit community was discriminated against in the Maha Yagya – the Dalits were finally forced to bow down to the stand and pressure of the non-Dalits
Birgunj – The ward president and the chief district officer have settled the incident of the Dalit community being barred from participating in the Maha Yagya in the village.
During the preparations for Maha Yagya to be held from 8th to 17th Chait in Birgunj Metropolitan City-17 Alau, the Dalit community protested against discrimination against the Dalit community. The Dalit communities say that the Pooja Committee discriminated against untouchability by not allowing the Dalit community to participate in the worship. Dalits could not participate in the Maha Yagya Pooja as the non-Dalits were not allowed to sit on the Maha Yagya Vedi (Poojapath) keeping the distinction of untouchability.
However, the Dalit leaders of Alau had been raising their voice for a month demanding that they should also be allowed to sit on the altar of Maha Yagya. The non-Dalits had been taking a stand that Dalits could be allowed to participate in other functions of the Maha Yagya, but they were not allowed to sit on the altar (pujapath) and perform the puja. This dispute reached the district administration office through the district police office. They also held a street demonstration in Birganj against the discrimination against them. They, who formed the Sangharsh Committee, had held a press conference and warned that the movement would intensify if caste untouchability was discriminated against in the Maha Yagya.
But Dalits have finally been forced to bow down to the stand and pressure of non-Dalits. A day before the commencement of the Maha Yagya, in a discussion between the non-Dalit and Dalit communities in the village on Tuesday, it was agreed that Dalits will be allowed to participate in all other activities except for sitting at the altar (puja path) of the Maha Yagya. Umesh Ram Chamar, the leader of Sangharsh Samiti, says that they were forced to accept the agreement after the Maha Yagya was canceled due to the dispute.
Umesh says that when all the other castes of the village united, Dalits did not back down from their stand of not allowing Dalits to sit in the Vedi (Poojapath) work.
He says, “If we Dalits had been on our own stand, there might have been a situation where the Maha Yagya would have been stopped in the village and there would have been a massacre, but we did not want that to happen, and we retreated from our stand.” He complains that he has been raising his voice against caste discrimination for the past one month and even when he went to the legal body to plead, his voice was not heard.
Another member of the Sangharsh Committee, Krishna Kumar Ram Chamar, also said that they have not achieved any results from their struggle for a month against caste discrimination and untouchability.
He said that even in the present 21st century, Dalits are not allowed to sit in Maha Yagya prayers because of the discrimination of untouchables.
Even Haredev Ram Chamar, who has been struggling for a month, complains that he is losing his mind when he sees the discrimination of untouchability. He says, ‘We revolted for a month so that we could not touch the Pujapath, but no one heard the voice of our rebellion, whatever the other castes wanted, they left it at the end. ‘
He also says that after the Dalit leaders of the village agreed, they did not want to be an obstacle to it.
There will be no discrimination after this: Ward President
Ward President Sanju Bahadur Chatkuli said that in the discussion between non-Dalits and Dalits in the village on Tuesday, it was agreed to go together to the Maha Yagya. Ward President Chatkali said that due to lack of time, only non-Dalits will be allowed to sit on the altar (pujapath) of this year’s Maha Yagya and Dalits will also be allowed to sit on the altar of the Maha Yagya. He said, ‘Dalits also took a step back from their stand, non-Dalits also took a step back from their stand, and an agreement was reached. According to the same agreement, he informed that Maha Yagya has started from Wednesday.
What should I do if they meet themselves? : CDO
The Chief District Officer of Parsa, Hiralal Regmi, said that the two parties who discussed in the village on Tuesday informed him that they have agreed to perform the Maha Yajna together. He said, ‘During the discussion held at the CDO office on Chait 5, both sides said that we will meet in the village. Yesterday (Tuesday), both sides called me to inform me that we have met. ‘
But Dalits were not allowed to sit on the altar of Maha Yagya with the discrimination of caste and untouchability? Prazia Regmi answered the question and said, “Both sides have agreed, what should I do now that we have met?”
But Manor Ram, a Dalit youth leader of Parsa, says that being a Hindu, not allowing Dalits to sit at the altar of the Maha Yagya organized by Hindus is discrimination of caste and untouchability and it is a punishable crime according to the law.
He says, ‘Aloon’s Dalits have committed a punishable crime, so this crime cannot be covered up in the name of reconciliation, the police administration should arrest and punish those who do not allow Dalits to sit on the altar of Mahayagya.
He adds, ‘The Caste Discrimination and Untouchability (Crimes and Punishments) Act, 2068 provides that in case of caste discrimination or untouchability in both public and private places, one should become a party to criminal punishment under the Act.
Sub-section 2 (b) of Section 4 of the Act states that there shall be no discrimination of any kind in public places or functions, whether individually or collectively. Discrimination is punishable by imprisonment for 3 months to 3 years and a fine of 50,000 to 200,000 rupees.
