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The Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Uttar Pradesh’s Malihabad has alleged that she was discriminated against based on her caste at a land-worship ritual before the renovation of a temple in Kakori, The Hindu reported on Friday.
Jai Devi Kaushal is a member of the Pasi community, which is recognised as a Scheduled Caste under the constitutional system of affirmative action.
The incident took place on Wednesday at the Sheetla Temple, reported The Print. The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh has sanctioned approximately Rs 78 lakh for renovating the temple.
“They did not allow me to touch even a flower or be part of the bhoomi pujan because I am from the Pasi community,” the news outlet quoted Jai Devi Kaushal as alleging.
A group named Hindu Jan Seva Samiti, which is involved in temple welfare activities in the area, denied her allegations.
Prajwal Gupta, the president of the group, told The Print that the organisers had asked Jai Devi Kaushal to break a coconut as part of the ritual and had arranged garlands to honour her, “but she declined them and left”.
Jai Devi Kaushal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take note of the incident, The Hindu reported.
“We have fought a long battle against caste discrimination,” The Print quoted her as saying. “And it still happened with me. We will address this in front of every minister.”
She said that when she arrived at the temple to lay the foundation stone on Wednesday, the priest had already started the ritual. She alleged that neither she nor her team was asked to join the ceremony.
The legislator claimed that she had approached government offices about the temple’s condition and helped secure funding for its renovation.
Her husband, Mohan Lal Kaushal, alleged that the temple had been at the centre of a caste-related controversy in 2025 as well, when a man from the Pasi community was allegedly accused of “defiling” the premises, The Print reported.
He said he and his wife had complained about the incident and a case was filed. “Now, people are taking revenge on us by preventing the MLA from participating in the bhoomi pujan and insulting her,” he added.
Edited by Sneha.
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