New Delhi, March 15 Citing reports that community kitchens at Varanasi's Annapurna temple were affected due to a "shortage" of LPG, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby on Sunday said the development reflects the "failure" of the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and the Centre.
In a post on X, Baby said he learned of the closure of the temple annakshetras -- which feed thousands daily -- upon arriving in Varanasi for the Jan Akrosh Jatha.
He noted that the kitchen had reportedly shut for the first time in decades due to the ongoing LPG crisis
"In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's own constituency, the famous Annapurna Temple's Annakshetras, which have been feeding thousands daily for decades, have shut down for the very first time due to the ongoing LPG crisis. It is a testament to the utter failure of the Modi-Adityanath governments," Baby said.
He added that "empty words and 'simple technologies' cannot hide this reality" and urged the government to act now. "People need relief, not rhetoric. Act now," he wrote.
The CPI(M) leader shared a news report which said that the annakshetras (food courts) at the Kashi Annapurna Temple were temporarily shut on Saturday due to an LPG shortage.
Distribution of prasad at the temple has been impacted due to a perceived "shortage" of cylinders, even as authorities in Uttar Pradesh reiterated there is no supply crunch. Officials warned of strict action against hoarding and black marketing.
Mahant Shankar Giri Maharaj maintained that the temple's annkshetra is facing a severe crisis, making it difficult to prepare food for devotees.