Following a complaint from Dalits of Dindagur in Channarayapatna taluk, the Hassan district administration has issued a notice to shut down a hotel for practicing untouchability in the village.
The owner of the hotel located in the premises of the Muzrai temple allegedly did not allow Dalits to enter the premises and served food outside while others were allowed inside.
Santosh DD, who holds a diploma in theater from Neenasam at Heggodu in Shivamogga district, said the hotelier had been practicing untouchability since opening the hotel a few years ago.
“I had gone to the hotel to meet a friend who was having dinner inside. As soon as I stepped inside, the owner stopped me. He told me that people from my caste are not allowed inside. I was shocked,” he said.
In a village with more than 500 houses, about 60 houses belong to Dalits. Vokkaligas, Lingayats are among the other castes who are residents of the village.
The educated young Dalits of the village have taken the issue of discrimination against them seriously. With the help of the Bhim Army, an organization working for Dalits, he submitted a memorandum to the taluk administration and officials demanding action against the hotelier, as well as entry into temples in the village.
There are three Muzrai temples and one private temple in the village.
“All these years, elders of our families used to stand outside temples and offer prayers. After the hotel incident, we have resolved to enter temples to end the practice of untouchability in our village,” said DN Nataraja, a Dalit youth.
Channarayapatna Tehsildar JB Maruthi and other taluk level officials visited Dindagur on September 20 to discuss the issue with all the stakeholders. No one except Dalits came to the meeting.
Mr Maruthi said, “We have issued a notice to close the hotel. The administration will not allow anyone to continue the practice of untouchability.
Regarding entry into temples, Mr. Maruthi said, “I spoke to some villagers, who said that they neither prevented Dalits from entering temples nor opposed it. We will soon fix a day for their entry into the temples in the presence of the police force to avoid any untoward incident. We hope there will be no protest.”
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