Sinha's view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.

Ranjeet Lal Jhangar, a Hindu priest, said their opposition to the online facility stood vindicated. 'Now we have the support of Shatrughan Sinha,' he said.

In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government's decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.

However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government's decision as 'interference' and an 'attack on an age-old religious service'.

The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.

Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.

Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week.

Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath.