A senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from Chitradurga constituency in Karnataka was not allowed to venture into Gollarahatti village in his constituency for being Dalit.

The incident took place on September 16th, Monday, in Gollarahatti, a Yadava-dominated village of Pavaguda taluk of Tumkur district. A Narayanaswamy, the senior Dalit leader went to the village to commence a housing project for the homeless under the Corporate Social Responsibility. The minister was also accompanied by the representatives from Biocon, a pharmaceutical company based out of Bengaluru; and representatives from super speciality Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital. 

As per an NDTV report, Narayanaswamy was demeaned by the Golla community of the village who branded him as untouchable and told that the village doesn’t allow people from lower castes to enter. “We have traditions. There is a history of incidents. So people said he should not be allowed,” a villager said.

When the MP reached the spot, some villagers argued on his entrance to the temple. Moments later, people gather around debarring him from entering the premise. The villagers remained adamant even after the representatives of the two companies tried convincing them. Naryanasawamy came back disheartened without venturing into the village.

According to the MP, the told him that the former JDS MLA Thimmarayappa never tried disrupting the sanctity of the village when he knew he was a Dalit

“I want to change their mindset. I don’t want to file a case against them. Untouchability is a reality. Change of heart is important. Laws can’t change that,” Narayanswamy said to the press. He further told the media that he doesn’t want to forcefully enter into the village with police’s aid.

Police have ordered an enquiry into the matter. The SP said that it is still unclear as to who stopped the BJP MP from entering. “We are looking for individuals. I have ordered the inspector to give me a report. We only know that he was stopped by a few people as he belonged to a different community,” India Today quoted the SP as saying.

However, Karnataka Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan denounced the act and said, “If the MP was stopped from entering Gollarahatti then I condemn it. Action must be taken. We all are the same, there should be no discrimination. We are of the same flesh and blood.”

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