Week after denying entry, Dalit MP receives warm welcome in Gollarahatti

Tumakuru: The villagers of Pemmanahalli Gollarahatti (settlement of Golla community) on Monday put an end to the centuries-old custom of barring scheduled castes (SCs) from entering their village.

A week after senior BJP leader and MP from Chitradurga was denied entry into a Gollarahatti (settlement of Golla community), the villagers on Monday a made history by welcoming him with garlands.

The residents showered him with flowers and took him in a procession around the streets of the Gollarahatti. Seers of Dalit and OBC mutts of Chitradurga district – Madara Chennaiah Swami, Eshwarananapuri Swami, Krishna Yadavananda Swami and others – carried out a harmony walk in the Gollarahatti.

Addressing the people during his visit Narayanaswamy said, “I am happy that I have won the hearts of the people of this Gollarahatti and that I was able to change their mindset on the practice of untouchability.”

He further added, “I could have entered the Gollarahatti by force with the help of the police. But I waited for a week for a change in their minds and hearts.”

“This change of heart should not be limited to just Pemmanahalli Gollarahatti,” he said.

Although untouchability, an age-old practice, was legally abolished by the government of India, a senior BJP leader and MP from Chitradurga was denied entry into a Gollarahatti (settlement of Golla community) of Pemmanahalli in Pavagada taluk of Tumakuru district on Monday, September 16.