The demolition of temples done by officials as part of a road widening program in Vijayawada revived the squabble between BJP and Telugu Desam Party, both partners in the state government.
For the first time, Vijaywada, known for Left and gang-war politics, today turned saffron because of the protest rally by these organisations. The chant of 'Jai Sri Ram' filled the air.
Thousands of people, BJP workers and VHP followers, led by dozens of seers, organised a protest program in Vijayawada, the seat of the temporary government of Andhra Pradesh this afternoon.
The government demolition of about 30 temples last week, some of which had been in existence for over a century, came under severe criticism not only from Sangh Parivar groups but also from other political parties like the CPM, Congress and the opposition YSR Congress.
The demolition has not only revived the war of words between the two ruling parties of BJP and TDP, but both sides almost came to blows yesterday when senior BJP leaders Kanna Lakshminarayana, Somu Virraju and V Srinivas, along with their followers, tried to visit a Gow Shala (cow shed), which was also demolished. TDP leaders led by MLA Budda Venkanna pushed away the BJP protesters.
Both Kanna and Virraju are staunch critics of Naidu’s policies. The duo, along with Naidu’s sister-in –law Purandeswari, led a virulent campaign against Naidu’s diversion of central funds and demanded an account of the central fund expenditure. But the Rajya Sabha elections and TDP’s generosity to nominate union minister Suresh Prabhu had generated a new bonhomie between the two parties.
Under the influence of the new found friendship, local authorities demolished several temples in the name of widening of the roads for the forthcoming 12-day Krishna Puskharalu next month. The demolitions included an old Hanuman temple, which BJP leaders claim had been in existence since 1903.
Defending the demolition, TDP leaders said it was necessary to widen the road as the government was expecting about two crore pilgrims to visit Vijayawada for a holy dip in River Krishna during Pushkaralu.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani equated the Vijayawada demolitions with bringing down of the temple in Gujarat when Narendra Modi was chief minister. Nani’s derogatory remarks against these temples enraged BJP leaders and members of the Hindu Dharma Parirakshna Samiti. All of this led to the dharna today by Sangh Parivar members.
Addressing the protest rally, Saiva Kshetram seer Siva Swamy said bringing down a Ganapati temple, the 100–year-old Hanuman temple and other temples would not augur well for the state government. Dismissing the comparison between the Vijayawada demolitions and those of Gujarat, Siva Swamy said the then Modi government consulted with the managements of the temples and took their consent before bringing them down.
He said such consultation did not take place in Vijayawada, and the statues were thrown into garbage trucks like trash. Siva Swamy cursed Nani, wishing he would never win an election again in his life.
The Seers and BJP leaders demanded that all the demolished temples should be rebuilt. They also sought an open apology from Naidu.
