Vandalism of temples and desecration of idols continue in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has said that perpetrators of attacks on temples will not be spared and directed police to take stringent action against the vandals. It has caused public outrage and Opposition parties are demanding stringent action.
Lord Subrahmanya Swamy’s idol in Lord Vigneshwara temple of Rajahmundry district has been found desecrated. A case has been registered and the police are investigating the matter to nab the perpetrators and have formed five teams. This incident occurred just days after the 400-year-old idol of Lord Rama at the Ramateertham of Vijayanagaram district temple was vandalised and head of the idol was severed.
The Chief Minister termed the destruction of idols atrocious and God will certainly punish those who keep messing with temples and idols. He directed the police to step up surveillance to prevent attacks on temples.
Following several attacks on temples in the state, the opposition parties accused the government of failing to protect the places of worship. Strongly condemning the incidents, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have blamed the YSR Congress Party government for its sheer negligence. The BJP called for ‘Chalo Ramatheertham’ programme on Friday to protest against the repeated desecration of temples.
Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu would be visiting Ramateerdham today to take stock of the situation. He alleged that Jagan Reddy is responsible for all these attacks.
In a statement he said that three lions have vanished from Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada, a chariot was torched in Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple in Antarvedi, and no arrests have been made so far. He accused that this YSRCP regime is a death blow to Hindu culture.
BJP secretary and state co-incharge Sunil Deodhar warned that the Reddy government will have to pay a huge price for desecrations.
Jana Sena led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan demanded CBI probe. On the other hand, YSRCP Rajya Sabha member Vijayasai Reddy alleged that TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu was behind the demolition of the idol of Lord Kodandarama at the holy shrine in Ramateertham. He alleged that the TDP leaders had conspired to divert public attention in the wake of Chief Minister’s distribution of house site pattas.