GORAKHPUR: A BJP nagar panchayat chairperson performed ‘purification’ of a temple in Siddharthnagar district after an SP MLA visited it for a religious programme.
The rituals were done by Badhani Chafa nagar panchayat chairman Dharmaraj Verma after SP legislator Saiyada Khatoon participated in the Shatchandi Mahayajna at Samai Mata temple at Balua village of the district on Saturday evening.
Verma conducted the 'purification rituals' on Sunday by sprinkling Ganga water and other puja items. He declared that the temple had become impure and needed purification since Saiyada Khatoon is a Muslim and a non-vegetarian.
Khatoon, who is MLA from Domariyaganj, attended the temple programme on the invitation of local residents.
Verma told reporters that some unscrupulous people had invited Saiyada Khatoon to the sacred place. Following the purification, the place is now considered entirely pure and suitable for worship, he added.
In response to Verma’s allegations, the SP legislator said she is a representative of the constituency and respects all religions. She said that whatever is necessary for the development of the temple will be done. After the programme, the video of the chairman of the nagar panchayat started circulating on social media, in which he said that the legislator had defiled the temple.
The chairman stated that a video of the legislator was on social media last year as well, in which she was seen climbing the temple stairs wearing slippers. On the other hand, the Dumeriaganj MLA said that she respects everyone and has contributed to the restoration of temples in her constituency.
