In order to malign Hindu places of worship and to indirectly tarnish the image of UP CM Yogi Adityanath, a media house has come up with a blatantly false news report claiming that Dalits are not allowed in some of India’s biggest temple including Gorakhnath Mandir in Gorakhpur.
Powerful expose tonight. Watch how #DalitsNotAllowed in some of India’s biggest temples, including at the Gorakhnath Mandir in Gorakhpur. Ugly reality of India exposed. Wooed for votes, but ostracised in reality. Investigation by SIT. Unmissable. 7 pm @IndiaToday 9 pm on @aajtak pic.twitter.com/e5kL90fHnR
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) December 26, 2018
People of Gorakhpur, devotees of Gorakhnath Mandir, and devotees who have visited the Gorakhnath Mandir quickly expose the brazen lie of media. Vikas Pandey, a native of Gorakhpur, shared a video in which a person belonging to Mallah caste is saying that he along with his family work and prays at Gorakhnath Mandir. He also said that people of all caste and religion are welcome at Gorakhnath Mandir.
This is first expose video where Shravan (a Mallah by cast). He and his family stay, work and pray at Gorakhnath Mandir. He says that people of all cast and religion are welcome here and people like @rahulkanwal are just spreading lies. Via @Gaurav737gkppic.twitter.com/gaNlS7vKw7
— Vikas Pandey (Sankrityayan) Modi ji’s Family (@MODIfiedVikas) December 26, 2018
He also shared a video of Dalit worshipper who was present inside the Gorakhnath Temple premise for worshipping.
This is as LIVE as it can get. Here is one Dalit worshipper who is visiting Gorakhnath Temple premise right now! Asking cast of worshipers is worst thing we could do but @rahulkanwal ko expose karne ke liye poochna pad Raha hai 😣pic.twitter.com/bjOqjY3Lmy
— Vikas Pandey (Sankrityayan) Modi ji’s Family (@MODIfiedVikas) December 26, 2018
Columnist as well as Assistant Professor at Delhi University, Abhinav Prakash, who is also a Dalit, rubbished the fake claims of Rahul Kanwal. Abhinav Prakash also said that he knows so many Dalits who have gone to Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur.
https://twitter.com/Abhina_Prakash/status/1077801270444908544
Satyendra Triphati said that there were saints in the Nath sect who themselves were Dalit. In fact, the Nath panth was established to demolish inequality and discrimination on the basis of caste in the society.
गोरखनाथ मंदिर प्रांगण में होने वाले खिचड़ी पर्व को मैं पिछले २० सालों से देख रहा हो वहाँ ने केवल हिंदू जबकि मुस्लिम भाई भी आते हैं। @rahulkanwal जी यह झूठ है और एक बार संत बनने के बाद जाति नहीं पूछते। नाथ सम्प्रदाय में काफ़ी संत रहे जो ख़ुद दलित है। https://t.co/YR1v0ICAFS
— सत्येन्द्र त्रिपाठी (@isatyendra) December 26, 2018
Nath sect and Gorakhnath Temple are famous for their works to eliminate casteism, and untouchability from the society. There are many cooks belonging to Dalit caste working inside the temple premise. Vikash Pandey shared a video in which Baba Ji (a Dalit by caste) has been working for temple as cook and electrician since last 60 years. Not just Hindu even Muslim working inside the temple.
Baba ji (Dalit by cast) has been working for temple as cook and electrician since last 60 years!! Hear his affection for temple!
मंदिर के एक और दलित कर्मचारी का बयान।
ये भी मंदिर में काफी समय से कार्यरत है।
सुनिय और खुद फैसला करे सही और गलत में। pic.twitter.com/lGDtuPxWu0— Vikas Pandey (Sankrityayan) Modi ji’s Family (@MODIfiedVikas) December 26, 2018
No temple asks caste of the individual and no one visits a temple with a board around their neck proclaiming their caste. There are enough evidences to prove that claims made by Rahul Kanwal are false at all the levels. It’s not just fake news but it also seems to be a deliberate attempt to promote caste hatred among the people of Hindu society.
This attempt of Rahul Kanwal and India Today seems to fit the pattern of news reports that have sought to demonize Hindu Dharma through propaganda and falsehoods. However, as with the previous attempts, this one seems to have also fallen flat due to utter lack of truth and substance.
