Harish Rawat visits injured Tarun Vijay, says `God belongs to all`

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday, visited Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tarun Vijay in the hospital, who was attacked by a mob after he visited a temple in Chakrata on Friday along with a Dalit leader and assured that strict action will be taken in the matter, adding that nobody whatsoever can be stopped from going to a temple as God belongs to all.

"The DM and SSP are on the way to the spot of the crime. The commissioner will give me a firsthand report and we will take stringent action accordingly. People's rights should be recognised and nobody can be stopped from going to a temple as God belongs to all," Rawat told the media in Dehradun before meeting Vijay

Stating that he does not have any concrete solution to the problem of people remaining steadfast to the strict customs and traditions, the chief minister added that certain areas have problems when it comes to relaxing their norms.

"But we are persuading the people and changes can be seen. Public awareness also needs to be cultivated in the matter. Yes, customs should be respected, but you can't stop someone from worshipping. I want to call on all religious leaders in the state to open the doors of their temples to people from all faith and also to the Dalits. After all, everyone is human," Rawat said.

He further said that besides the guilty, those who were lax in taking any action from preventing the untoward incident would also not be spared.

Talking to the reporters after meeting the injured MP, the chief minister assured that Vijay's condition was stable and that the doctors were happy with the line of treatment given to him, adding that he has conveyed to the medical team of complete assistance from the state government.

"I told the doctors that if we need to bring in specialists from outside, that can also be provided. I have also told them that if he needs to be transported somewhere else for further treatment, then we can provide a chopper. But the treatment being provided Dehradun is really satisfactory. Even Tarun Vijay is happy with this treatment," Rawat said.

Asserting that action will be taken against the guilty by evening on Saturday, he added that the attack on the MP and others was both physical and mental.

Condemning the attack, Rawat said that how can such attacks happen in the 21st century on the basis of caste and religion.

Meanwhile, DGP MA Ganapati told the media that a team has been constituted to help the police. A case in the matter has been registered with the revenue police and further action will be taken against the culprits.

"Where the incident happened does not come under the police jurisdiction but since a VIP team was going to the location, we sent a team for personal security," Ganapati said.

A mob of at least 2,000 people started throwing stones Vijay and Daulat Kunwar, a BSP leader from Chakrata, stepped out of the Silgur Devta temple at Punah-Pokhri village.

A few policemen were injured in the scuffle and two police vehicles were damaged.

Vijay was on a campaign to allow Dalits in the temples in the Jaunsar-Bawar region.