Ravidas temple: Dalit activists to go on indefinite protest

Members of the "Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti" are going on an indefinite "dharna" at the Jantar Mantar from August 30 to press for reconstruction of the Sant Ravidas temple at its original site in south Delhi's Tughlakabad area, the committee said on Tuesday.

Sukhdev Waghmare Maharaj, who is leading the movement for restoration of the land and reconstruction of the temple, also demanded the release of 96 persons who were arrested for allegedly indulging in rioting on August 21.

"We are going to sit on an infinite dharna till the time the land is given back to the Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti, which is the lawful owner of the land and the temple is restored at its original place.

"We also demand the release of the 96 persons who were arrested by police. We believe that some outsiders had created the ruckus on August 21," he said.

On August 21, Dalit protesters turned violent when the police did not allow them to proceed to the site of the temple demolished by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on August 10 on the orders of the Supreme Court.

The mob pelted stones on the police, leaving several policemen injured, and vandalised vehicles. Police had arrested 96 people in connection with the violence and booked them under relevant sections of the law.