Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Thursday said that his comments on the idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple in Khajuraho were misrepresented on social media. He stressed that he respects all religions and never intended to hurt anyone’s faith.

"Someone told me the other day that the comments I made were misrepresented on social media," the CJI said. "I respect all religions," he added.

The matter began on September 16, when the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking reconstruction and reinstallation of a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the UNESCO World Heritage Javari Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho complex. The bench headed by CJI Gavai termed the petition a “publicity interest litigation.”

“This is purely publicity interest litigation… Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation," the CJI had remarked during the hearing.

The court also pointed out that the issue falls under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). "It's an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not… there are various issues,” the CJI said.

He further added, “In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there… There is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho.”

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