What is striking is the alacrity with which the police made the arrests, and the promptness with which a Varanasi court rejected bail applications and sent the accused to judicial custody. It is sacred for Hindus, of course, but it is also a river that belongs to all. The Ganga does not discriminate as it bears witness and carries family memories. Regardless of the faith of those who make it their own, it is forgiving and nurturing. The attempt to divide the Ganga, to claim that only one community owns it, is jarring and out of place in Kashi.

Source: Indian Express March 21, 2026 06:26 UTC