BJP MLAs Vishnu Kumar Raju and Akula Satyanarayana took strong objection to the demolition of some prominent temples in the city in the name of development.
They expressed regret that the assurances by none other than Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to rebuild the temples in a manner that is acceptable to all were confined to rhetoric. During their visit to the temples and the Gosala on Arjun Street here on Thursday, Mr. Raju said the demolition could not have taken place without the knowledge of the Chief Minister, whose promises to restore the temples were apparently ignored by the officials concerned.
“Even after a committee was constituted as per the instructions of the Chief Minister, nothing that would assuage the hurt feelings of the majority community happened,” Mr. Raju pointed out, and said the issue would be taken to the notice of Mr. Naidu on his return from Delhi.
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BJP leaders Srinivasa Raju and Umamaheswara Raju were among those present.
Fast continues
Amidst slokas and hymns, members of the Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Samiti (HDPS) on Thursday continued their relay fast and demanded corrective measures to be taken by the State Government on the demolition of temples and gosala in city.
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The members said that the sentiments of the Hindus were hurt owing to the demolition spree taken up by the authorities in the name of development. “They did not even spare the gosala which was housing nearly 450 cows. Now there are around 40 cows in a crammed shed. Nearly 80 per cent of the gosala land taken away by the corporation,” said former legislator Vellampalli Srinivas.
The BJP leader said that it was the responsibility of the authorities to earmark alternative sites for the demolished temples and the gosala.