The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Endowments’ move to keep idols ‘safe’ dropped

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Endowments’ move to keep idols ‘safe’ dropped

Special Correspondent

BJP protests proposal to keep temple idols in strong-rooms

Keeping idols in strong-rooms amounts to confining gods in jails: BJP
Move only aimed at preventing thefts, says Endowments Commissioner

HYDERABAD: A proposal by the Endowments Department to keep ancient panchaloha idols in temples, other than those installed in sanctum sanctorums, in strong rooms to prevent thefts, was hastily dropped at the intervention of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday.

The proposal sparked protests by the BJP and its frontal organisations who alleged that it hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus. Keeping idols in strong-rooms or lockers amounted to confining the gods in jails instead of worshipping them, they claimed. Endowments Commissioner P. Sundar Kumar clarified there was no proposal to disturb either the statue of the presiding deity (moola virat) or the smaller replicas (utsav vigrahas) taken out in processions during festivals.

The move was only aimed at protecting the ancient panchaloha idols and jewellery from thefts by keeping them in the custody of the deputy commissioner of the area concerned. Earlier, BJP followers, led by N. V. S. S Prabhakar, state secretary, staged demonstration at the Endowments headquarters on Tilak Road here.

The cause of the furore was a note issued on April 15 by C. V. S. Rama Murthy, chief engineer, Endowments, calling assistant commissioners for a meeting in Hyderabad and to bring details of loose ancient Panchaloha vigrahas for their proper custody.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh