CM Jagan In Damage Control Mode

Having faced severe criticism over the series of attacks on temples and vandalisation of Hindu idols, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy seems to be on a damage control mode.

On Friday, the CM would lay foundation stone for the renovation of 9 temples that had been demolished by the TDP government in Vijayawada. They include the Rahu-Ketu temple, Sitamma Paadalu, Dakshina Mukha Anjaneya Swamy temple (near Sitamma Paadalu), Sanaischara temple, Boddu Bomma, Anjaneya Swamy temple (near the steps of Durga temple), Sitarama Lakshmana Sameta Sri Dasanjaneya temple, Veerababu temple (near the police control room), Sri Venugopala Swamy temple in Kanakadurga Nagar and a Goshala.

Reddy will also unveil two plaques for renovation of Sanaischara Swamy temple in Vijayawada. Later, he would have darshan of Goddess Kanakadurga at the Indrakeeladri temple.

Rs 70 cr for Indrakeeladri temple

For the first time ever in the history of the state, the YCP government is releasing Rs 70 crore towards the development works of Kanakadurga temple, as promised by the CM while offering silk clothes to the goddess during Dasara Utsavalu last year. Jagan Mohan Reddy would also lay stone for the development works at the temple today.

So far, development works of any temple in the state were taken up with the offerings made by devotees. In case, if small temples need renovation, the amount needed is spent from the Common Good Fund pooled by the endowments department from the bigger temples. However, there have not been instances of spending more than Rs 5 crore from CGF. For the first time, Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to release Rs 70 crore from the CGF for the renovation works in Durga temple.

TDP resorted to corruption in temple works

The YCP leaders charged that the TDP leaders with resorting to corruption while trying to pool funds for development works of Indrakeeladri temple. The TD leaders spent Rs 60 crore deposits made in the name of Goddess Durga for buying lands near the temple to take up the development works, the YCP functionaries said.

They alleged similar scam in the case of Srisailam temple too. The YCP leaders alleged that the TDP leaders sanctioned double the amount of funds available with the Srisailam temple and tried to mortgage the Nitya Annadana Scheme funds with the banks to raise the sanctioned funds.

Attacks on temples will not be tolerated: Botsa

Meanwhile, municipal administration minister Botsa Satyanarayana made it clear that the government would not tolerate attacks on temples. Attacks on any religion will not be spared, he said.

He fumed at the TDP government for demolishing several temples in the name of Pushkaralu development works, despite severe opposition from the public. The minister said that all the demolished temples were being reconstructed with an estimated cost of Rs 1.79 crore. He reminded that the TDP and BJP were allies and that a BJP leader was the endowments minister when the TDP government demolished temples. He said that a comprehensive probe would be held into the Ramtheertham incident.