Dalit man lays claim to Radha Temple

Tension prevailed in the town of Barasana, birthplace  of Radha, Lord Krishna's companion, after a man claimed ownership over scores of temples, properties and land worth thousands of crores, saying that a number of erstwhile kings across the country had bequeathed them to his ancestors.

The dalit man, identified as Dinesh Kumar Das, has written to authorities staking his claim over the properties, which included the world famous and historic Ladliji Temple, dedicated to Radha, at Barsana in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, about 400 km from here.
The town is also famous for its “Lathmar Holi”, wherein women hit men with sticks during the festival of Holi.

The Ladliji and others temples are currently controlled by members of the Goswami community—an upper-caste Brahmin community that looks after temples and cow shelters in Mathura, Vrindavan and Barasana.

Many of the properties claimed by Das are in Nandgaon, close to Barasana.

The Ladliji Temple was built by Raja Bir Singh Judeo of Orcha in Madhya Pradesh in 1675.

According to sources, the Goswamis apprehended that members of the dalit community might make an effort to “capture” the temple after Das laid claim to it. As a result, a large number of security personnel has been deployed in and around the temple.

Das has claimed ownership of at least 10 temples, 16 “havelis” (mansions), hundreds of acres of land, palaces and hillocks, said sources.

Not taking any chances, the administration has deputed senior officials to monitor the situation and take measures to defuse the crisis.