TDP demands CBI inquiry damage to temple properties

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, September 9

Telugu Desam Party national president and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has condemned “about 20 attacks” on places of worship of different religions across Andhra Pradesh under the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) rule.

He has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to find who is behind these attacks and to nab the culprits.

Naidu, in a series of comments on Twitter, referred to how sacred chariots of temples were burnt to ashes while priests were coming under attack even as the propagation of other religions was being allowed under the present management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Even the historic Simhachalam Temple Board was illegally taken over, he has alleged.

Blaming this on what he called “egoistic and tyrannical” attitude of the ruling YSRCP, Naidu said only a CBI probe can reveal who the culprits were and can lead to justice. Naidu asserted that AP has been a progressive, pluralistic State where all faiths have thrived and co-existed peacefully. However, of late more than 20 attacks have taken place on religious places.

He said there seemed to be a pattern in the occurrence of continuous attacks on different faiths. From charring of sacred chariots at Antarvedi and Bitragunta to the idols being demolished at Pithapuram, there appears to be a pattern in these incidents. There were also attacks on priests like in the Devarampadu incident.

It may be recalled that the latest burning of a chariot at Antarvedi Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple had caused widespread unrest. The TDP had already sent a committee of its leaders who urged for a judicial enquiry to bring out the facts behind the chariot burning. The Opposition has been agitating with the authorities not yet resolving the mystery behind the fire.

He said people were concerned about the propagation of other religions under the management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. On the other hand, there was illegal take-over of the Simhachalam temple board. In all these aspects, there seems to be a pattern.

As a responsible Opposition party, the TDP was demanding a CBI inquiry into all these incidents and attacks under the present regime.