Tamil Nadu Govt To Rebuild Vellore Temple Demolished By Caste Hindus To Exclude Dalits

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department will assume control of the temple once it is rebuilt.

Tamil Nadu government has stepped in to rebuild Kaliamman temple near Gemmankuppam village in Vellore district after it was demolished by dominant caste Hindus in an effort to exclude Dalits from participating in the temple festival. The incident, which occurred on August 6, saw the temple being razed using earthmovers, leading to widespread condemnation and legal action.

Following a complaint by Naveen Kumar, a Dalit resident, the KV Kuppam Police registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The government's Revenue Department, in response to the situation, has taken the initiative to rebuild the temple. Construction is set to begin on Tuesday with the consecration of the idol scheduled for August 22.

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) department will assume control of the temple once it is rebuilt. To ensure that the temple is accessible to all, including the Dalit community, the Revenue Department organized a meeting with various Hindu groups and Dalit leaders on Monday. The meeting resulted in an agreement to rebuild the temple and to establish a seven-member committee of government officials from the HRCE to oversee the temple's daily affairs.

KR Scolapani, a Dalit resident, expressed his approval of the government's decision, noting that the involvement of the HRCE would help ensure that Dalits can worship freely in the temple. The decision marks a significant step towards addressing caste-based discrimination in the area.

The demolition of the temple was reportedly instigated by Logenathan, a local soothsayer, who claimed that a goddess had appeared to him in a dream, instructing that Dalits should not be allowed to worship in the temple. This claim led to heightened tensions in the region, ultimately culminating in the destruction of the temple by the dominant Hindus.

The Revenue Department has since directed Logenathan to hand over the idol of the temple by Wednesday. The newly established committee will be responsible for managing temple ceremonies and customs, with the District Revenue Officer (DRO) having the final say on recommendations.