Posting photos of Lingaraj temple was mistake: Vijay Goel

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel on Monday said he had by mistake posted in social media photos of the sanctum-sanctorum (Garbhagriha) of the Lingaraj temple in the Odisha capital.

Controversy erupted after he posted the pictures of sanctum-sanctorum on his official twitter handle that shows him offering sacred water to Lord Lingaraj.

"Yesterday (Sunday) on the occasion of #UtkalaDibasa, I had by mistake tweeted pictures of the Lingaraj temple from my trip last year. I did not wish to hurt anyone's sentiments and therefore, I am withdrawing the tweet/images," wrote Goel.

Wishing the people of Odisha on the occasion of Utkala Dibasa on Sunday, Goel had posted three photos mentioning that those were clicked during his trip to Bhubaneswar last year.

"Greetings of #UtkalaDibasa to our brothers, sisters and friends from #Odisha! Some pictures from my trip to the majestic Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar last year," tweeted Goel.

It may be recalled here that an FIR was recently lodged against Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon for shooting a video inside the temple premises with a mobile phone.

Cameras, mobile phones and other recording devices are not allowed near the temple's sanctum-sanctorum.

--IANS

cd/nir/vm