The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Jharkhand government of imposing a ‘Jaziya tax’ on Shiva devotees visiting the Dalma hills during the month of Sawan. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev stated that the government is collecting money from devotees who visit the ancient Shiva temple in Dalma, near Jamshedpur, for performing the ‘Jalabhisek’ ritual. He alleged that this practice is akin to the historical Jaziya tax. Shahdev criticized the state government during a press conference held at the BJP office in Ranchi. He further claimed that officials, including DFO Saba Alam, are collecting fees from devotees, even those on foot, and that a formal notice has been issued to this effect. The BJP has demanded the immediate withdrawal of this alleged ‘Tughlaqi decree’, warning of potential protests if the government fails to comply. They emphasized the significance of the Dalma Shiva temple as a major center of faith for devotees from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. Shahdev also criticized the government for leaving key departments vacant for months.
