Pre-Planned Attacks On Temples By TDP: Jagan

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy lashed out at the TDP for trying to malign the reputation of the YCP government by planning a series of attacks on temples in the state. The TDP resorted to attacks on temples in a pre-planned manner to gain political mileage, he alleged.

Addressing the police at the inaugural session of Ignite, a programme aimed at enhancing and honing the skills of the police by adopting latest technology, Reddy said that the Opposition parties planned attacks on temples on knowing that the people were hailing the good governance by the YCP government. The women of the economically backward families began feeling happy that they are having a good leader in the state.

Pre-planned attacks

Sensing the happiness among the people, the TDP saw to it to that the silver lions adorning the chariot at Kanakdurga temple in Vijayawada were stolen on September 13, 2020.

The YCP government announced that it would introduce YSR Jala Kala to ensure supply of irrigation water to farmers. Just three days before the launch of the programme, on September 25, miscreants desecrated the statue of Lord Hanuman at Tummuru in Naidupeta municipality, Nellore district.

On October 8, the YCP government brought in revolutionary changes in the education sector through Jagananna Vidya Kanuka. Just three days before that, on October 5, the Sesha padagas of Srilakshmi Narasimha Swamy were destroyed in Mantralayam mandal, Kurnool district.

On October 16, the YCP government constituted 56 corporations for the welfare of the backward communities (BCs). Immediately, the next day, on October 17, there was news that the gopuram of Veerabhadra Swamy temple was damaged in Tarlapadu village, he said.

The YCP government also distributed 31 lakh house site pattas to women of economically backward sections. Days after the distribution, miscreants took the lighting at Tirumala temple during Brahmotsavams and began publicising that it was a Cross representing Christianity at the holy shrine. It was not a Cross but just the illumination arranged at the temple as part of Brahmotsavams, he said.

Distribution of house sites

Similarly, the government planned distribution of house sites to the poor in Vizianagaram district. “Knowing about the arrival of the Chief Minister, some unidentified people went to Rama temple in Ramatheertham, 10 km away from the place I was supposed to reach to distribute the house site pattas, and desecrated the idol of Lord Rama,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

The distribution of house sites is still going on but at the same time, an idol of Lord Subrahmanyeswara Swamy was vandalised in Rajahmundry, he lamented.

It should be significant to note that many of the temples where the attacks were carried out do not fall in the purview of the endowments department. Many of the shrines are being managed by the TDP leaders. All the temples are located in remote areas and not visited by devotees frequently.

Reddy alleged that the TDP leaders were themselves carrying out the attacks and resorting to desecration of idols late in the night and publicising about the same through social media and their own television channels like Eenadu, Andhrajyothi and TV5, the next day.

CCTV cameras installed in temples

Hinting at the TDP leaders, he said that the police were being forced to deal with crimes inciting communal feelings among the people in the last few days.

He said that the police should include investigation into the temple attacks too in Ignite.

The TDP has adopted guerrilla warfare against the government because it is not able to digest the reputation the YCP leaders were getting, the CM alleged.

The Chief Minister claimed that the government has installed CCTV cameras in nearly 20,000 temples in the state.

He lamented that the TDP was not sparing even God when it came to cheap tactics in politics. He asked the police to discuss about the political crimes too and try to hone their skills in investigating them.