New Delhi: BJP MLA Jai Devi Kaushal, who belongs to the Pasi community, has alleged caste discrimination during the restoration and bhoomi pujan ceremony of the Sheetla Mata temple in Kakori, Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh. She has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take note of the incident and speak out against caste-based discrimination.
The incident reportedly took place during a bhoomi pujan ceremony organised ahead of the temple’s renovation Wednesday. The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned approximately Rs 1 crore for the rejuvenation of the temple.
Kaushal alleged that she was not allowed to participate in the rituals because of her caste identity.
“They did not allow me to touch even a flower or be part of the bhoomi pujan because I am from the Pasi community,” Kaushal told ThePrint. She added that she had personally approached various government offices to raise the issue of the temple’s condition and worked to secure the budget for its renovation.
“If they can discriminate against me on the basis of caste, then this could happen to anyone in the future. People could even be prevented from performing puja,” she alleged.
Recalling the incident, Kaushal said that when she arrived at the venue to lay the foundation stone, the priest had already begun the puja.
The Hindu Jan Seva Samiti, which is involved in temple welfare activities in the region, denied the allegations.
“When she (Kaushal) arrived, the organisers asked her to break a coconut as part of the ritual. Garlands had been arranged to honour her, but she declined them and left,” said Prajwal Gupta, president of the Hindu Jan Seva Samiti.
Kaushal rejects the claim. She said that neither she nor her team was asked to participate in the puja or invited to come near the area where the priest was conducting the rituals.
‘Long battle against caste discrimination’
The temple’s renovation budget has been sanctioned by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department. Wednesday’s bhoomi pujan ceremony was organised by the tourism department and the contractor appointed for the project.
The alleged discrimination against Kaushal is not the first such controversy to emerge from the Sheetla Mata temple. In 2025, a man from the Pasi community was humiliated at the temple after being accused of defiling the premises. Priests at the temple forced him to lick the temple floor with his tongue as a form of punishment.
“We complained about that incident, and a case was also filed. Now, people are taking revenge on us by preventing the MLA from participating in the bhoomi pujan and insulting her,” said Mohan Lal Kaushal, Jai Devi’s husband.
The Hindu Jan Seva Samiti dismissed Jai Devi Kaushal’s allegations as a political stunt for attention and sympathy. Kaushal, on the other hand, said the issue of caste discrimination should be taken up by PM Modi.
“We have fought a long battle against caste discrimination. And it still happened with me. We will address this in front of every minister,” Devi said.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
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