Rahul Gandhi visits Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Denied Photo Op

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the renowned Kashi Temple in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering prayers to Lord Vishwanath and later holding a roadshow in a display of political strength. However, controversy arose over the alleged failure of the temple administration to provide pictures of Rahul’s worship to Lord Shiva. Congress accused the state government of obstructing Rahul’s ‘shivbhakti,’ but the government dismissed the claims as a ‘blatant lie.’

The Congress party, through its official handle, made several allegations against the temple administration and the state government, labeling it a conspiracy to prevent Rahul from having photos taken at the sanctum sanctorum. The party claimed that the temple authorities, at the behest of the district administration, denied permission for their cameraman to capture Rahul’s prayers and, despite assurances, did not provide pictures for over 3.5 hours.

In response, Kashi temple CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra refuted the accusations, calling them ‘baseless and unwarranted.’ He clarified that, according to existing protocols, cameras are not allowed inside the temple premises, and permissions are granted only in exceptional cases. The official emphasized that everyone is treated equally before Lord Vishwanath and stated that neither permission was sought by Rahul’s associates nor denied. The temple photographer managed to capture Rahul’s pictures amid the commotion, and they were shared as requested, maintaining a peaceful atmosphere for the photo opportunity.