Brahma Temple priest attacked for allegedly not letting President Kovind enter inside

The priest of Brahma temple in Rajasthan’s Pushkar was attacked by a “mentally challenged” man on Tuesday for allegedly objecting President Ram Nath Kovind from entering the temple.

The accused Ashok Kumar Meghwal, a Dalit, was unhappy because President Kovind was not allowed to worship in the temple during his recent Pushkar visit.

“I wasn’t present on that day, otherwise I’d have ensured that he sees the temple,” ANI quoted the accused as saying.

According to the police, Meghwal was mentally unstable.

The priest Mahadev Puri, however, escaped the attack with minor injuries and was being treated at a Government Hospital in Pushkar.

Earlier on May 15, Kovind and his family had visited the Brahma temple in Pushkar and offered prayers from the stairs. There were reports that he was stopped by the temple authorities from entering the temple for being a Dalit.

However, press secretary to the President, Ashok Malik rubbished the reports and said that entirely the president’s decision and there was no other factor.

“President’s visit to Pushkar was very short as he had to fly to Mumbai that afternoon. Despite repeated requests of government, temple authorities and the priests, his schedule didn’t permit him a full darshan. This was entirely the president’s decision. There was no other factor at all,” he tweeted.