“This technology will promote sedentary religious habits among the devotees. There is no alternative to visiting the temple physically,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“We are not against technology, but physical ‘darshan’ is an integral part of Hinduism. Live telecast from the ‘garbhagriha’ of the renowned temple will enable devotees to have a ‘darshan’ sitting conveniently in their bedrooms,” Joshi said, adding, “I support those who are against the live telecast.”

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, which has been managing the affairs at the 18th century temple since 1983, has recently tied up with Tata VSNL and Tata Sky for live telecast from the shrine.

Talking to mediapersons at Varanasi, Joshi also reiterated the BJP’s stand on the Ganga Expressway project. He said it would not only destroy fertile land, but also pollute the sacred river. The former HRD minister, however, evaded a direct reply when questioned about the fertile land destroyed because of the Golden Quadrilateral Project during the NDA regime. “Whatever has happened in the past should be forgotten and not be repeated,” he said.