A few Hindu dharmik organisations held a public meeting to condemn the demolition of temples in the city regardless of the State government’s assurance that the temples would be re-constructed at same places, on the Canal Road here on Monday.
A host of sadhus and swamijis addressed the gathering and demanded the State government dismiss the district Collector and the VMC Commissioner. They also wanted Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) to tender unconditional apology for his ‘over-reaching deeds’ in the demolitions and the outburst against the gousala.
Doubting the credentials of the officials, the swamijis alleged that ulterior motives drove them to demolish the temples.
“Unfortunately the government appointed as Krishna Pushkaram special officer, an IAS officer who is involved in religious conversions during his stint in the agency area. The government is requested to take note of it,” said Kamalananda Bharati.
Mr. Srinivas, the MP, who attended the meeting said the government had decided to re-construct the temples at the same place. The government would also not demolish the Vijayeswara Swamy temple. The Seethammavari Padalu would also be rebuilt after beautifying the entire area. Reconstruction of the temples would be completed before the commencement of the Pushkarams, he said.
Not satisfied with the assurances, activists of the Samithi nearly gheraoed Medical and Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, who is a BJP MLA. The crowd did not relent though Narsapur MP Gokaraju Gangraju, also of the BJP, tried to pacify them. The activists raised slogans against the government and demanded apology from the Vijayawada MP making him to leave the meeting abruptly.
MLC Somu Veeraraju, BJP leader Kanna Lakshminarayana, Siva Swamy of Siva peetham, Srinivasananda Swamy, Mahant Yamunadas and others were present.
The organisers seemed to have chosen the Canal Road as the appropriate place for the meeting as a reported move to demolish the close-by Vinayaka temple ignited instantaneous protests consolidating the voice of the Hindu dharmik organisations. People took to the roads as rumours that the government was planning to demolish it spread like wildfire. The officials removed Seethammavari Padalu, Dakshinamukha Anjaneya Swamy temple and Sanaischara swamy temple overnight. But, the response was lukewarm.
Unfortunate: CM
In Guntur, Chief Minister Chanrababu Naidu, who fielded a wide range of questions from media persons, said that the recent verbal exchanges between the TDP and the BJP leaders over demolition of religious symbols and places as part of road-widening works in Vijayawada were unfortunate. He further asked the leaders to sort out their differences rather than air their opinions publicly.“Everyone knows that the TDP and the BJP have been allies both at the Centre and in the State. It is not fair on the part of regional leaders to air their differences in public,” he said.
