BJP leaders Somu Veerraju, Kanna Lakshminarayana and others looking at idols of Hanuman that were taken out of a demolished temple near Prakasam Barrage and kept on the premises of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, on Sunday. —Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Siva Swami of Siva Kshetram, Mahant Yamunadas Digambar of the Hanuman temple, Konakalla Vidyadhara Rao and others said that the elected representatives were behaving like rowdies and goondas,
“They have no respect for Hindus and their sentiments. The government remained a mute spectator as if it was supporting the deeds of Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) and other elected representatives, they said, adding, “we demand that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu tender an apology. We also demand the resignation of the MP.”
The government has announced grandiose plans for the river festival. No Hindu dharmic organisation would cooperate with the government, if the Samithi’s demands were not heeded. The government should remember that Godavari pushakarams brought disgrace to it as Hindu idols and structures were demolished. Despite that , Hindu organisations extended their services then, they pointed out.
The government should reconstruct the temples at the same place of face the consequences for which the Hindu organisations should not be blamed, they said.
Siva Swami said that the Samithi has planned a rally on Monday in which more than 40 peethadhipathis and seers would take part.
Siva Swami said that the government was talking of demolition of temples in Gujarat. But, the Gujarat government had followed all procedures.
Alternative land was shown. Funds were released for reconstruction. But, here the government demolished the temples overnight. The managements would not have made it an issue had the government followed due procedures, they added.