Caste discrimination: BJP MP attacked over temple entry

Dehradun: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Tarun Vijay was injured in an attack at Pokhari village in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand on Friday last, confirmed party officials.

A mob of upper-caste villagers pelted stones at the parliamentarian and his Dalit supporters for allegedly going to the Silgur Devta temple, where entry of backward caste people was prohibited.

Vijay and his injured supporters were rushed to a local infirmary.

“Vijay and others were assaulted after they raised slogans while going to the temple,” said a senior police officer.

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to micro blogging site Twitter to censure the attack on Vijay.

Strongly condemn the attack on party MP Shri @Tarunvijay in Uttarakhand. Such acts have no place in democracy. Wishing him speedy recovery.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 20, 2016