Dalits - Real Issues & Discussion

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<b>Dalits enter temple for first time, offer pooja</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Three hundred Dalit men and women from an Adi Dravidar colony entered the centuries old Draupathi Amman temple at Kandampatti near here for the first time and offered prayers.

The temple, which was closed down by the administration about two months ago following a clash between Dalits and the dominant group of Vanniyars, who have been claiming that the temple belongs to them, was opened yesterday following a Madras High Court order.

The Dalits, escorted by police, prayed at the temple in the presence of officials from the revenue and Hindu Charitable and Religious Endowments (HR&CE) departments.

The Vanniyars, as a mark of protest, left their homes with their families and took asylum at nearby Chitharkoil.

The court had issued the order on a petition filed by leader of Dalit outfit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Thol Thirumavalavan.

Inside the temple, VCK activists raised slogans in praise of their leader, who they claimed had taken the initiative to ensure that Dalits entered the temple.
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Good start. <!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo-->