One year over but Ramatheertham culprits not caught: Venkatrao
Jagan rule not acted firmly even in one temple attack
AMARAVATI: TDP politburo member K. Kala Venkatrao on Wednesday expressed concern that the YSRCP Government was showing interest only in grabbing the assets of temples but not in ensuring their security and development.
Venkatrao demanded that Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy should explain why the culprits were not arrested even one year after the desecration and demolition of Rama idol at Ramatheertham. The Government’s failure to nab the accused in the temple attacks amounted to insulting the sentiments of the Hindu devotees only.
In a statement here, the TDP leader said that the Sri Rama idol atop Bodikonda in Ramatheertham had over a 400-year-old history and tradition. Among the devotees, Ramatheertham was popular as the ‘Ayodhya of North Andhra’. One year was completed since the miscreants cut off the head of Rama idol at Ramatheertham which is located in Vizianagaram district.
Venkatrao said that modern technology had empowered the State to catch the accused even in murder cases within 24 hours of committing the crime. But, the Jagan Reddy regime could not take any action in the Rama idol desecration case. The YSRCP Government had thrown up its hands in helplessness as the culprits in countless temple attack cases escaped with impunity.
The TDP leader deplored that over 230 attacks were perpetrated on the Hindu temples and places of worship all over the State under the negligent regime of the YSRCP since 2019. Ever since Jagan Reddy took over as the Chief Minister, a series of temple attacks and demolition of idols took place in the temples. The celestial temple chariots were set on fire in some instances.
Venkatrao asked why CM Jagan Reddy did not take the required action even in one single temple attack incident. This exposed the negligent and indifferent policy that the ruling YSRCP had taken towards the Hindu religion as a whole. Would so many temple attacks have taken place if the Jagan regime acted firmly and punished the culprits in the first temple desecration itself?
The TDP leader said nothing came out of the CBI investigation into the Antarvedi temple chariot burning case till now. Every probe into every temple attack case remained a mystery under the irresponsible Jagan regime.
Venkatrao accused the Chief Minister of resorting to instigating religious feelings to derive selfish political mileage out of that. The YCP regime had no minimum responsibility to protect religious harmony in the State. Jagan Reddy was dividing the people of the state along caste, regional and religious lines for his own selfish agenda.
