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Ganga Water Purification at Election Chief’s Agra Home Draws Congress Criticism
A group of Congress workers protested outside the family home of election chief Gyanesh Kumar in Agra on September 28.
The report says slogans were written on the home’s gate and walls.
Kumar’s mother, Satyawati Gupta, said the house was left very dirty and that people made objectionable remarks.
On October 6, a procession carrying Ganga water went to the house.
A religious recitation was held, followed by a ritual to purify the home.
Congress leader Amit Singh criticized the ritual and said it suggested untouchability.
He said Congress would join a different ceremony if one were held.
Police arrested six workers after the protest, and police sources said they were later released on bail.
A Ganga-water purification ritual was held at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s ancestral home in Agra on October 6.
His mother, Satyawati Gupta, said the home was left dirty and objectionable remarks were written during a Congress protest on September 28.
A Kalash Yatra preceded a Sundarkand recitation and the purification ritual.
Agra Congress city president Amit Singh criticized the ritual as reflecting a mindset of untouchability and called for a “yajna for wisdom” instead.
Police arrested six Congress workers after the protest; police sources said they were released on bail on October 4.
- Who
- Gyanesh Kumar’s mother, Satyawati Gupta, and Congress city president Amit Singh commented on the ritual; six Congress workers were arrested after the protest.
- What
- A Ganga-water purification ritual was held at Kumar’s ancestral home, prompting criticism from Congress.
- Where
- Gyanesh Kumar’s ancestral home in Vijay Nagar, Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The ritual took place on October 6, after a protest on September 28; the six workers were released on bail on October 4.
- Why
- Gupta said the home had been left dirty and objectionable remarks were written during the protest; Singh said the ritual reflected a mindset of untouchability.
Congress criticism
Family’s explanation
Reason for the purification ritual
Congress criticism
Amit Singh alleged the ritual reflected a mindset of untouchability, claiming Dalit and other backward-class protesters had touched the house’s walls.
Family’s explanation
Satyawati Gupta said the home had been left very dirty during the protest and that objectionable remarks were made, prompting the family to purify it.
Response to the protest
Congress criticism
Singh called for a “yajna for wisdom” for Kumar and said Congress would participate if such a ritual were organized.
Family’s explanation
Gupta said a Kalash Yatra brought Ganga water from a temple, after which the Sundarkand was recited and the house purified.
Key facts
- Ritual date
- October 6
- Protest date
- September 28
- Location
- Gyanesh Kumar’s ancestral home in Vijay Nagar, Agra
- Ritual
- A Kalash Yatra with Ganga water, followed by a Sundarkand recitation and purification
- Congress response
- Amit Singh criticized the ritual as reflecting a mindset of untouchability
- Arrests
- Six Congress workers were arrested and, according to police sources, released on bail on October 4
Quotes
Satyawati Gupta
Gyanesh Kumar’s mother
“That is why we brought a Kalash Yatra with Ganga water from the temple and, after reciting the Sundarkand, purified the house.”
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Sources
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