Endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas justified the YCP government’s action against TDP leader and former Union minister Ashok Gajapati Raju. Ashok Gajapati Raju was removed from the post of chairman of Sri Rama Swamy Devasthanam located atop a hill near Ramatheertham in Vizianagaram district, after a 400-year-old idol in the ancient temple was desecrated by unidentified miscreants a few days ago. The idol’s head was separated from the torso and thrown in the temple lake.
The minister said that Ashok was ripped off the chairman post of the temple because he was a ‘useless fellow’.
“Being the chairman of a set of temples, he could not even take steps to ensure security of the idols and belongings of the shrines. Moreover, he has been pouring out his woes before Opposition leader and his party president N. Chandrababu Naidu. Should such a waste fellow who cannot provide security to the temples be allowed to continue as the chairman,” the minister asked.
Ashok Gajapati Raju is the chairman of the Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy Devasthanam in Ramatheertham, Sri Pyditalli Ammavari Devasthanam in Vizianagaram and another temple at Mandapalli in East Godavari district, all founded by his family, the Pusapati Rajus of Vizianagaram royal family.
The vandalisation of Rama’s idol triggered a massive outrage from the opposition parties, including the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the temple to take stock of the situation. Getting wind of Naidu’s visit, YCP MP V. Vijayasai Reddy rushed to the hilltop even before Naidu could reach there. This led to tension at the temple with cadres of all the political parties camping at the shrine.
Meanwhile, there is news that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would also visit Andhra Pradesh following the series of attacks on Hindu temples and desecration of idols in the state during the last few months. Shah’s visit, it is being said, is aimed at knowing the political atmosphere in AP and to help the BJP gain foothold in the state.
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