Agra (UP), Oct 6 (PTI) A “shuddhikaran” (purification ritual) using Ganga water was performed at the ancestral home of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar here on Tuesday, days after a protest by Congress workers outside the residence.
A “Kalash Yatra” was first taken out to Kumar’s residence in the Vijay Nagar area, following which a recitation of the Sundarkand (a chapter from Ramayana) was held.
Kumar’s mother, Satyawati Gupta, said the premises had been left “very dirty” during the September 28 protest and alleged that objectionable remarks were written on the door of the house.
She also alleged that slogans were raised and “very bad” things were said during the protest.
“That is why we brought a Kalash Yatra with Ganga water from the temple and, after reciting the Sundarkand, purified the house,” Gupta said.
The purification ritual, however, drew criticism from the Congress.
Agra Congress city president Amit Singh said a “yajna for wisdom” should instead have been performed for Kumar, adding that the Congress would also participate “if such a ritual” was organised.
Singh alleged that the purification of the house reflected a “mindset of untouchability”. He claimed that members of the Dalit community and other backward classes had touched the walls of the house during the Congress protest and alleged that this was the reason for the purification ritual.
Congress workers had held a protest outside Kumar’s ancestral residence in Vijay Nagar on September 28 over issues concerning the functioning of the Election Commission.
During the protest, workers allegedly blackened the main gate and walls of the house and wrote slogans like “Gyanesh Gaddar” and “Chor” on them to express anguish over alleged irregularities in election-related processes.
Police subsequently arrested six Congress workers and sent them to jail. Cases were registered against them under provisions relating to alleged disorderly conduct and other offences during the protest.
According to police sources, all six workers were released on bail on October 4. PTI COR KIS KSS
KSS
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