BSP supremo Mayawato today said that the incident of denying a Dalit girl the right to drink water at a temple in Sambhal was very unfortunate.
She asked the state government to take strict action in this matter as it related to humiliation of a Dalit girl.
"The government should take strict measures against people indulging in humiliation of Dalit," said Mayawati.
The 13-year-old Dalit girl was from Gunnaur village in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal District.
According to Sudha, she was working in the fields along with her father and when she went to the temple to quench her thirst, she was humiliated by the priest.
"When I went to drink water, the priest called me 'chamar' and said how had I dared to drink water. He also called me names. He slapped me," she said.
"Then, I went to my father. When my father confronted him, he thrashed my father with a stick," she added.
Her father Charan Singh further alleged that the entire Dalit community in the village is not allowed to take water from the temple's hand-pump.
The police has registered a case under Section 323,324 and 3(1) 10 of the SC/ST Act.
