Sankatmochan temple exemplifies secular spirit of Varanasi

Varanasi, Mar 9 (UNI) The Sankatmochan temple, one of the two sites of Tuesday's bomb blasts, presented an exemplary face of communal harmony today.

UP Congress president Salman Khurshid not only visited the temple, but also took 'Prasad', which irked various Hindu activists including the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Temple authorities humbly rejected a demand by ABVP and other organisation activists to 'clean' the premises after Mr Khurshid's visit.

The authorities said persons belonging to different religions visited the temple and it should not be seen in communal or religious light.

As per traditions, the temple is cleaned with 'Gangajal' every morning.

BJP leader Vinay Katiyar was denied permission to sit on a dharna inside the premises against the twin bomb blasts.

Mahant Vishambhar Nath Mishra told UNI that Katiyar sat on a dharna outside the temple premises.

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