Dalits fume over fine on their women for entering temple in Karnataka
07, Sep 2015
Sathish G. T.
Sigaranahalli (Hassan), September 7, 2015
The Scheduled Castes community at Sigaranahalli in Holenarsipur taluk is furious after the ‘upper caste’ people of the village imposed a penalty on four Dalit women for entering a temple.
The women have refused to pay the penalty arguing that they too have rights to enter the temple as they contribute money to organise its festival.
When The Hindu visited the village on Sunday, Thayamma, in her late 50s, came down heavily on the ‘upper castes’ for questioning her entry into the Sri Basaveshwara Temple, constructed in 2001. It was on August 31 that the four women entered the temple for a special puja held on behalf of Sri Basaveshwara Stree Shakti Sangha, a self-help group consisting of 20 members.
