There should not be any discrimination on the basis of gender, said the MLA

A temple and ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district were “purified” and the idols in it cleansed with Ganga-water after a BJP woman MLA visited it.

Local tradition bars women from entering the Dhurm Rishi temple. According to locals, Manisha Anuragi, a legislator from the reserved seat Rath, had visited the village Muskura Khurd on July 12 to attend a school function in her constituency. She also offered prayers at the local temple.

Following her visit, the village residents called for a meeting, where they decided that the premises of the ashram would have to be “purified.” The idols were sent to Allahabad to get “purified” with the waters of the Sangam.

“How could she be allowed to enter the temple. No woman has ever gone there,” a villager told journalists. The villagers believe that if a woman enters the temple, a natural calamity would befall them. They claimed that after the visit, they have stopped getting rainfall.

Ms. Anuragi said she was hurt by the incident, calling it an “insult” to women.

“There is no ban on women from entering any temple. There should not be any discrimination on the basis of gender,” said the first-time MLA.