Temple ‘purified’ with Gangajal after Muslim MLA’s visit in UP
Members of Hindu organizations and local civic officials showered Gangajal (Ganga water) on a temple in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district on monday to "purify" it, a day after a Muslim lawmaker visited the shrine, according to police. Saiyada Khatoon, a Samajwadi party (SP) lawmaker from Domariaganj, claimed she was invited to an event on sunday by the management of the Samya Mata shrine in Balwa village, Siddharthnagar district.
However, following the ram Katha event, the chairman of the local panchayat and representatives of other Hindu groups visited the temple on monday, sprinkled Gangajal, chanted the Hanuman Chalisa, and screamed anti-Khatoon slogans, according to police. "Samya Mata Mandir is a place of worship for devotees." people swarm the temple in defiance of the local MLA's disdain. "She is a non-vegetarian, and her presence harmed the sanctity of the place," claimed Dharmaraj Verma, head of the Barhni Chafa nagar panchayat.
However, following the ram Katha event, the chairman of the local panchayat and representatives of other Hindu groups visited the temple on monday, sprinkled Gangajal, chanted the Hanuman Chalisa, and screamed anti-Khatoon slogans, according to police. "Samya Mata Mandir is a place of worship for devotees." people swarm the temple in defiance of the local MLA's disdain. "She is a non-vegetarian, and her presence harmed the sanctity of the place," claimed Dharmaraj Verma, head of the Barhni Chafa nagar panchayat.
"Samya Mata Mandir is a place of worship for devotees." people swarm the temple in defiance of the local MLA's disdain. "She is a non-vegetarian, and her presence harmed the sanctity of the place," claimed Dharmaraj Verma, head of the Barhni Chafa nagar panchayat. Members of other Hindu organizations, including Santosh Paswan, Mithlesh Pandey, Vijai Madhesia, and Promod Gautam, followed him. Dharamaraj Verma, the chairman, stated that he splashed Gangajal on the temple to "purify" it.
Taking notice of the situation, Domariaganj Circle officer Sujit Kumar Rai stated that a police squad was patrolling the area to avoid any confrontations and that they had not yet received any complaints in connection with the event.
"We will take appropriate action if a complaint is filed in this regard," he said.
Rai further stated that local villagers had created an organizing committee for the ram Katha, led by Shrikant Shukla, secretary of the organizing committee, and Pujari Prasad, temple head priest, and had invited the SP leader.
"We are investigating the incident and keeping a close eye on developments," said abhishek kumar Agarwal, superintendent of police in Siddharthnagar.
Khatoon said that some elements were deceiving a number of individuals. "I value all religions. In addition, I am a public official. "Whether it's a temple or a mosque, I'll go if I'm invited," she remarked.
Her mla local area development money was used to support the renovation of different temples, she noted.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened at a shrine in Uttar Pradesh. After a Dalit woman lawmaker from the bharatiya janata party entered the temple in 2018, a temple in hamirpur district was cleaned with Gangajal.
Last year, a scandal erupted in adjacent bihar after a Muslim politician attended the Vishnupad temple with state minister Nitish Kumar, causing temple personnel to "purify" the premises.
Taking notice of the situation, Domariaganj Circle officer Sujit Kumar Rai stated that a police squad was patrolling the area to avoid any confrontations and that they had not yet received any complaints in connection with the event.
"We will take appropriate action if a complaint is filed in this regard," he said.
Rai further stated that local villagers had created an organizing committee for the ram Katha, led by Shrikant Shukla, secretary of the organizing committee, and Pujari Prasad, temple head priest, and had invited the SP leader.
"We are investigating the incident and keeping a close eye on developments," said abhishek kumar Agarwal, superintendent of police in Siddharthnagar.
Khatoon said that some elements were deceiving a number of individuals. "I value all religions. In addition, I am a public official. "Whether it's a temple or a mosque, I'll go if I'm invited," she remarked.
Her mla local area development money was used to support the renovation of different temples, she noted.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened at a shrine in Uttar Pradesh. After a Dalit woman lawmaker from the bharatiya janata party entered the temple in 2018, a temple in hamirpur district was cleaned with Gangajal.
Last year, a scandal erupted in adjacent bihar after a Muslim politician attended the Vishnupad temple with state minister Nitish Kumar, causing temple personnel to "purify" the premises.