Bengaluru: In what comes as a tit-for-tat move, the Mahant fraternity of Shiva’s abode Kashi Vishwanatha, has taken the harsh step of banning Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and his family from entering the temple, as reported by popular website. 

Not just that, he has also urged other Jyotirlinga temples to take similar action against the Congress leader for his irresponsible comment. 

Chavan had said, “Govt. must immediately appropriate all the gold lying with all the Religious Trusts in the country, worth at least $1 trillion, according to the #WorldGoldCouncil. The gold can be borrowed through gold bonds at a low interest rate. This is an emergency.” 

Quite naturally, a number of Hindu organisations have taken umbrage at the leaders’ controversial statements. 

Another mahant of the famous temple said, “Before taking gold from Hindu temples, money should be taken to combat Coronavirus from Congress leaders who have amassed huge wealth since independence.”

The Congress leader had further added, “If it is borrowed from these trusts at a nominal interest rate, the money can be generously spent on the lower middle and poor class to increase their spending capacity.”

The World Gold Council (WGC) has estimated the cost of gold in the religious trusts in India at around one trillion dollars and Chavan said that 'there is s little scope for raising funds from open markets'.

Hindu saints and seers have wondered as to why the Congress targets Hindu temples alone while leaving out churches and mosques. 

Another priest had openly registered his grouse against the Congress leader making such a statement. He had said, “I am hurt by the statement made by Chavan, it was during the Congress government when the Kashi Vishvanath Temple was robbed and taken under control.”