Jaipur – A day after igniting a firestorm with his pledge to "purify" a temple with Gangajal, BJP leader and former Ramgarh MLA Gyanadev Ahuja took his words to action. On April 7, he visited the Ram temple in Alwar—where Rajasthan’s Leader of the Opposition, Tikaram Jully, had offered prayers just a day earlier—and sprinkled Gangajal to “cleanse” it. Ahuja’s provocative statement on Sunday, claiming Jully’s visit had rendered the temple impure, had already set off a political maelstrom. His act today has poured fuel on the raging controversy, with the Congress slamming it as a brazen display of anti-Dalit sentiment and an insult to both faith and humanity.
The Congress has seized the opportunity, branding the comment a glaring reflection of BJP’s alleged anti-Dalit mindset and launching a scathing offensive against the ruling party.
As of now, no official response has emerged from BJP’s top brass or Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, leaving the controversy to fester. Political analysts warn that this flare-up could spell trouble for the BJP, especially as it strives to court the crucial Dalit vote bank. The episode has thrust caste and religion back into the crucible of Rajasthan’s political arena, with a fierce debate expected to intensify in the days ahead.
Reacting to Tikaram Jully’s temple visit, Gyanadev Ahuja declared, “Tikaram Jully, an opponent of Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma, went to the Karni Mata temple yesterday and entered the Ram temple today—he should be ashamed. Water is scarce these days; he ought to dunk his nose in a bowl of it. I won’t boycott the temple—it’s Lord Shri Ram’s abode—but tomorrow, I’ll go there myself. Where his impure feet tread and his hands touch the idols, I’ll sprinkle Gangajal to purify it and worship Lord Shri Ram. This is my solemn vow.” The statement exploded across social media, fanning the flames of an already escalating controversy.
Tikaram Jully, the Leader of the Opposition, condemned Ahuja’s words as an assault on his faith and a blatant endorsement of untouchability. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Senior BJP leader Gyanadev Ahuja’s statement lays bare the party’s mentality toward Dalits. I’ve raised the voice of Dalits in the Assembly, campaigning against untouchability, yet the BJP’s mindset is such that they speak of washing a temple with Gangajal because a Dalit like me dared to step inside. This isn’t just an attack on my personal faith—it’s a statement that fuels the crime of untouchability.”
Jully didn’t stop there, posing pointed questions: “Does the BJP despise Dalits so much that it can’t bear to see us worship? Have BJP leaders claimed sole ownership of God? The Chief Minister and the BJP state president must clarify—do they endorse this talk of cleansing temples with Gangajal when Dalits visit?”
The Congress rallied fiercely behind Jully, amplifying the issue with unrelenting vigor. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra thundered, “The BJP harbors malice, hatred, and envy toward Dalits in its heart. Yesterday, Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully visited a Ram temple in Alwar for Lord Shri Ram’s darshan; today, the BJP sprinkled Gangajal there. Ahuja’s derogatory remark and this despicable act against Jully are utterly reprehensible. Be it Dalits, farmers, women, or laborers—why does the BJP harbor such hatred for them? The people of Rajasthan will deliver a resounding answer to this vile mentality in due time.”
Former minister and ex-Youth Congress chief Ashok Chandna added fuel to the fire, stating, “Dalit leader and Opposition Leader Tikaram Jully participated in the Pran Pratishtha festival at a Ram temple in Alwar, only for BJP’s former MLA Gyanadev Ahuja to ‘purify’ it with Gangajal. This is an insult to the faith of Ram bhakts and the essence of Sanatan Dharma. It’s an affront to the Dalits of this nation—this is the BJP’s true character laid bare. Lord Ram is the deity of all humanity; such petty political behavior in His name is utterly shameful. For a party to treat a respected Dalit statesman holding a constitutional post with such disdain exposes its narrow-minded, discriminatory outlook.”
MLA Ramniwas Gawriya echoed the sentiment with equal ferocity: “This isn’t just an insult to one leader—it’s an affront to the entire Dalit community. After Tikaram Jully’s participation in the Pran Pratishtha at Alwar’s Ram temple, BJP’s Gyanadev Ahuja ‘purifying’ it with Gangajal mocks not only Lord Ram’s sanctity but also the dignity and faith of Dalits. I condemn this in the strongest terms. This is the BJP’s real agenda, character, and face. Lord Ram belongs to all humanity—using His name to demean Dalits reflects a petty mindset that rejects Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution and the values of social harmony. God transcends caste and creed; He belongs to everyone.”
Gyanadev Ahuja is a prominent Rajasthan politician and BJP stalwart who served as MLA from Ramgarh from 2003–2008 and 2013–2018. Known for his polarizing statements, Ahuja often reflects a hardline stance on social and religious issues. Hailing from Jaipur, he has long been associated with the BJP’s organizational framework and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Before entering politics, he worked in education as a college principal. Though defeated in the 2018 Assembly elections, he remains an active member of the BJP’s state executive.
His remarks—ranging from the current Gangajal controversy to past comments on mob lynching—have repeatedly stirred the pot. In 2022, following a mob lynching incident involving a farmer, Ahuja visited the victim’s family and made a contentious statement, leading to a case being filed against him at the Govindgarh police station.
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