India, Sept. 18 -- After his remarks on Lord Vishnu's idol in Khajuraho sparked a row, Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Thursday clarified his stance and said that he respects all religions.

"Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been misportrayed on social media...I respect all religions," Livelaw quoted CJI Gavai as saying.

CJI's clarification comes just days after he, on Tuesday, dismissed a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh, and asked the petitioner to "ask the deity to do something.""This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity hims...