Dalit, women's organisations protest against Kanya Samskara

Tension prevailed at Ramachandrapur Mutt at Girinagar in the city on Sunday as Dalit and women's organisations staged a flash protest against Kanya Samskara, a programme started by the mutt to baptise young girls.

There was heated argument between the protesters and the women devotees as protesters attempted to lay siege to the mutt.

Protesters raised slogans against Raghaveshwara Swami of the mutt, while women devotees batted for the ritual and the mutt

Ravathi Raj, president, Bahujan Dalit Sangarsha Samithi (Women's Cell), alleged that the seer and his followers were exploiting women in the name of Kanya Samskara. "There was no need for him to organise the ritual secretly. How could he lead the ritual when he was an accused in a rape case," she questioned.

Jagadish, secretary of the mutt, refuted allegations. "It is a ritual which is being orgniased regularly. The ritual began at 4 am inside the temple, while it went live on Facebook. There is no question of secret performance. Women belonging to any community can undergo the ritual," he said.

A woman devotee alleged that the protestors had an agenda. "They didn't answer our questions. They don't even know why they were opposed to the ritual," she said.

On being informed, the police rushed to the protest site, pacified both factions and controlled situation.

The ritual, held as part of Chaturmasa, continued as usual.