BJP Suspends Senior Leader Gyandev Ahuja In Rajasthan

The BJP leadership in Rajasthan has suspended senior leader Gyandev Ahuja from the party and issued a show cause notice, days after he sprinkled 'Ganga Jal' at a temple in Alwar to 'purify' the premises after Congress leader Tikaram Jully, a Dalit, attended the temple's consecration ceremony.

Determined not to let Gyandev Ahuja's 'purification' stunt harm its prospects in eastern Rajasthan, where Dalit voters play a key role, the state leadership has sent a notice to Ahuja. The notice, issued by BJP MP and party general secretory Damodar Agarwal, has sought an explanation from Ahuja within three days. The notice warns that if the former MLA does not send his response to state party chief Madan Rathore within three days, he will face disciplinary action.

"While taking the party's primary membership, you took an oath that you will not discriminate based on caste, gender, and religion. But you sprinkled 'gangajal' to protest Tikaram Jully's visit. Your action has maligned the party's image and falls into the category of indiscipline," the notice says.

A temple in Rajasthan's Alwar held its consecration ceremony on Ramnavami, observed on Sunday. Among those who attended the event was Tika Ram Jully, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly and three-time Congress MLA from Alwar Rural. Ahuja then said the temple would become "impure" when "his feet" enter the temple and "his hands touch the deity". The next day, he sprinkled 'Ganga Jal' to 'purify' the temple and performed a 'puja'. A video of him doing this went viral. When Congress leaders pointed to Jully’s Dalit background and said Ahuja's actions reflect his casteist mindset, the BJP leader said he is a "Dalit supporter" and that his actions were against the Congress mindset. "I have no personal animosity against Tika Ram Jully. I also went to meet him on his birthday. But the Congress calls Ram Setu fictional, so why do they come to a temple?" he said.