There is an outrage over social media and political controversy has started amid the ongoing beautification of Delhi ahead of the G20 summit as Fountains shaped like Shivling are installed at Delhi's Dhaula Kuan.

Both BJP and Aam Aadmi Party are blaming each other for playing with religious beliefs of the Hindus, as both parties have been trying to take the credit for the makeover of the city.

BJP National Secretary, Maninder Singh Sirsa  on TimesNow said, "No one should play politics over a religion. Playing with one's beliefs and faith is extremely wrong but AAP is no new to this. Unfortunately, they even defend such acts."

BJP leader Charu Pragya was among the first to criticise the Shivling-like fountains in the national capital. "A Shivling is not for decoration. And Dhaula Kuan is not Gyanvapi. AAP government in Delhi has installed Shivling shaped fountains at Dhaula Kuan," Charu Pragya, who identifies herslef as National Media Panelist of BJP, said in her post.

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on Thursday accused Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena of 'seeking applauds after disrespecting Shivlings'. He demanded apology from BJP and said action should be taken against the Delhi LG.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi also waded into the controversy. The Telengana-based party, however, blamed the BJP of making "mockery of Hinduism".

"Using Shivling as fountain's for the #G20Summit2023. Is the sacredness of the Shivling being trivialized for amusement? This is shameful & should be removed at the earliest," BRS leader Y Sathish Reddy said on 'X'.

Before the controversy started, BJP claimed that the Central Government was funding the G20 beautification in capital.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the organisations which are looking after the beautification work in Delhi - NDMC, ITPO, DDA, Indian Airforce, Delhi International Airport Limited, Delhi Police and the external affairs ministry home ministry - are all under the central government -.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed the money was being provided by AAP government's fund and taxpayers' money.