SIDDHARTHNAGAR (UP): A temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district was ‘purified’ with ‘gangajal’ after a visit by a Muslim MLA of the Samajwadi Party.

Doomariyaganj MLA Sayeda Khatoon had on Sunday visited the Samay Mata temple at the invitation of the local people to participate in a ‘Shatchandi Mahayagya.’ After she left, some people not in favour of her visit purified it with ‘gangajal’ amid chanting of mantras.

Dharamraj Verma, chief of Badhani Chafa’s Nagar Panchayat, led the purification. The lawmaker was invited by some “unrighteous” people, he said. “Because Sayeda Khatoon is a Muslim and eats cow meat, her visit to this holy place had made it impure,” he said, adding, “after this purification, this place has now become completely pure and suitable for worship.” Sayeda Khatoon said she would continue to visit places related to all religions and would not be deterred by any such acts.