In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, the conflict surrounding the ancestral residence of Chief Electoral Officer Gyanesh Kumar escalated into a religious purification event following disputes that began on September 28. After demonstrations by Congress activists and the smearing of soot on the house gates, a procession arrived at Gyanesh Kumar's ancestral home in the Vijaynagar colony carrying pitchers. Women performed a ritual cleansing of the house, sprinkling it with Ganges water, after which the reading of the Sundarkand began to the sound of a gong and conch shell.
Women from the Vijaynagar women's circle and the All India Mathur Vaishya Mahasabha gathered in the colony and started a procession from the Radha-Krishna temple. Participants carried pitchers of Ganges water during the march. The procession reached Gyanesh Kumar's ancestral home, where a ceremony of sprinkling with Ganges water was conducted to the singing of Vedic mantras.
A large number of local residents and community members were present at the event. Women participated in the religious rites, and subsequently, the reading of the Sundarkand was organized near the house. Strict security measures were maintained throughout the entire event.
Indeed, on September 28, Congress activists came to Gyanesh Kumar's ancestral home in Vijaynagar to stage a protest against the Chief Electoral Officer. During the protest, soot was smeared on the main gates and walls of the house, and words such as 'thief of votes' and 'traitor' were written with spray paint.
Following this, the police took action, arresting Congress leaders and activists. Six accused were sent to jail, but later all were granted bail by the district judge and released on October 4. After their release, Congress activists attempted to hold a procession, which led to a clash with the police. According to reports, the court also dropped the charge of attempted murder in this case.
After the procession with pitchers, Gyanesh Kumar's mother, Satyavati, stated that she is extremely upset by the Congress protests that occurred on September 28. According to her, an atmosphere of incident was created here, but today the Vijaynagar women's circle and men of all religions are making this event successful. She wished for both of them to awaken their common sense and for Vijaynagar to prosper. At the end, the chief electoral officer's mother said: 'Glory to Mother India, Jai Hind.'
Gyanesh Kumar's father, Dr. Subodh Kumar Gupta, noted that this event is being held to dispel misconceptions. He added that this is being done to resolve disagreements regarding SIR, which has been raised against Gyanesh Kumar. He explained that SIR is a process that grants voting rights to every person. He emphasized that the Congress and other parties do not believe they will win after SAR in the south, and they dislike this. These events are being held to achieve the truth.
The objective of the event, organized by the women's circle and men, is stated to be not only the religious purification of the house. According to the organizers, the religious event is being held in a peaceful atmosphere with wishes for the health, well-being, and longevity of the elderly parents. Following the procession with pitchers, the reading of the Sundarkand began. Religious rituals were performed during this time to the sound of the conch shell and gong.
Thus, before the political protest and smearing of soot occurred at the ancestral home, a religious atmosphere was created near the same house using Ganges water, pitchers, conch shells, and the Sundarkand.