http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/dalits-offer-worship-at-village-temple-after-decades_615539.html
Dalits offer worship at village temple after decades
Published on Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 01:36 | Source : PTI
Madurai, Nov 10 (PTI) Dalits hailing from Uthapuram in this district
today prayed at Sri Muthalamman temple after the long-standing dispute
with caste Hindus of the village was resolved. Both the sides were at
loggerheads for the past 20 years over offering worship in the temple.
The enmity between them was so much so that the caste Hindus even
built a dividing wall to prevent access to Dalits from using common
road running through their area in 1989. A portion of the wall was
demolished in 2008, after the intervention of the CPM and human rights
organisations. There were also frequent clashes between the two
communities over offering worship in the temple and several cases were
pending against people belonging to both communities. The issue was
resolved last month following efforts by Tamil Nadu Untouchability
Eradication Front, District Collector U Sagayam and Superintendent of
Police Asra Garg. Leaders of the caste Hindu community today welcomed
the Dalits to the temple. They also participated in the special puja
at the temple. Sankaralingam and Ponniah, the Dalit leaders, told
reporters that they were "very happy" after offering worship at the
temple. They said their community members had forgotten all the past
skirmishes and bitter incidents. It was also decided to withdraw all
the cases and remain united in future, Sankaralingam said. The caste
Hindu leaders said they would remain united with local Dalits and in
future they would also perform the consecration and festivals
unitedly.
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