Rajasthan’s Caste Clash: BJP Suspends Gyanadev Ahuja After 'Gangajal' Stunt Embarrasses Saffron Party

Jaipur – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) found itself in a political quagmire as it scrambled to contain the fallout from senior leader Gyanadev Ahuja’s brazen act of “purifying” a Ram temple with Gangajal, following a visit by Rajasthan’s first Dalit Leader of Opposition, Tikaram Jully. The saffron party, caught off-guard by Ahuja’s inflammatory remarks and actions, swiftly suspended his primary membership and issued a show-cause notice on Tuesday, signaling damage control amid a spiraling controversy that has exposed fissures in its carefully curated image of inclusivity. The move comes as the BJP grapples with accusations of harboring an anti-Dalit mindset, a charge that threatens to alienate a key voter base in the state.

The episode unfolded on Ram Navami, Sunday, April 6, when Jully, a historic figure as Rajasthan’s first Dalit to lead the opposition in the state assembly, attended the consecration ceremony of a Ram temple in Alwar’s Apna Ghar Shalimar residential society. His presence at the sacred event, however, drew the ire of Ahuja, a three-time MLA from Ramgarh, who branded Jully “anti-Sanatan” and “anti-Hindutva.” On the same day, Ahuja vowed to “cleanse” the temple, declaring, “Wherever his impure feet have walked and on the idols his impure hands have touched, I will sprinkle Gangajal. This is my solemn vow to offer prayers to Lord Ram.” True to his word, Ahuja stormed the temple on Monday, April 7, and performed the ritual, igniting a firestorm of outrage.

The BJP, wary of the mounting backlash, acted decisively. A notice issued by state general secretary and MP Damodar Agarwal lambasted Ahuja’s actions as a violation of the party’s core ideology and principles. It reminded him of his membership oath, which pledged to reject untouchability and all forms of caste, gender, or religious discrimination. Ahuja has been given three days to submit a written explanation to the state president, failing which further disciplinary action looms. State BJP chief Madan Rathore distanced the party from Ahuja’s stance, asserting, “Jully is a leader, and leaders have no caste. I spoke to Ahuja over the phone, but I couldn’t fathom why he made such a statement.” Rathore emphasized that the BJP does not endorse such remarks, attempting to salvage the party’s reputation.

The Congress pounced on the opportunity, turning Ahuja’s act into a rallying cry against the BJP. On Tuesday, party leaders and MLAs, including Mukesh Bhakar and former Rajasthan Child Rights Commission chairperson Sangeeta Beniwal, condemned Ahuja’s “casteist mindset” in scathing terms. Late Monday night, Jully’s supporters took their fury to the streets, smearing black paint on Ahuja’s Jaipur residence. Protesters accused him of insulting not just Jully but the entire Dalit community and mocking the Indian Constitution’s guarantee of equality. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to social media, grilling Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Rathore: “What action will you take against your senior leader’s behavior?” He labeled it “proof of the BJP’s narrow-mindedness toward Dalits.”

The controversy erupted during a moment meant for reverence. The Ram temple’s consecration on Ram Navami was a celebration of faith, but Ahuja’s objection to Jully’s participation—he claimed the Congress leader had denied Lord Ram’s existence—transformed it into a battleground of caste and politics. His Monday ritual of sprinkling Gangajal, captured on video and widely circulated online, poured fuel on an already volatile situation. Jully, a steadfast advocate for Dalit rights, fired back, calling it an attack on his faith and a promotion of untouchability.

In its notice, the BJP underscored its commitment to social harmony, citing the laying of the first stone at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple by Dalit worker Kameshwar Chaupal as evidence of its inclusivity. By suspending Ahuja and labeling his actions “indiscipline,” the party sought to distance itself from the controversy. Yet, the damage may already be done. Political analysts suggest that this episode could dent the BJP’s outreach to Rajasthan’s Dalit voters, a demographic it has long courted.

Ahuja’s suspension may quell internal dissent, but the BJP now faces a formidable Congress offensive. As both sides dig in, the clash over caste, faith, and power shows no signs of abating. With Rajasthan’s political landscape heating up, this saga promises to leave lasting scars—and perhaps shift the state’s electoral calculus—in the days to come.