Dipayal, September 7 :

A public demonstration was held in Silgadhi to protest the entry of Dalits into the local Shileshwori temple today.

Locals of Barhabarela and members of Shileshwori Development Trust staged the demonstration after Dalits tried to enter the temple.

The rally that started from Indrachowk reached the gates of the district administration office, chanting different slogans.

Stating that the rights organisations and journalists had instigated Dalits to enter the temple, the rallyists demanded a ban on their entry.

The rallyists also raised slogans against journalists.

Teachers at the Bal Mandir in Silgadhi joined the rally by closing the school.

The protest was not only against Dalits’ entry into temples, it was a political stunt said coordinator of the Dalit Women’s Association (Doti), Amrit BK, adding that the rally was staged by regressive forces.

Opposing the anti-Dalit rally, the Nepal Utpidit Jatiya Mukti Samaj organised a press conference in Doti today.

In a statement, it said some senior leaders of political parties, government officials and teachers of campuses staged the rally in the name of religion under the cover of raising the issue of Dalits entering temple. The Samaj condemned the incident.

Acting president of NC (Doti) Ram Prasad Upadhaya said his party workers were not involved in the rally.

Doti Chief District Officer Bal Dev Bhatt said attempts are on to solve the problem.

He said the law would be a final recourse if everything else failed.