Reputation Of AP Temples Damaged In Chandrababu Rule: Bhumana

Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh State General Secretary of YSR Congress party (YSRCP), Bhumana Karunakar Reddy lambasted Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for damaging the reputation of temples in the State.

Speaking at the press club here on Monday, Bhumana said that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders pocketed jewellery, sarees and other valuables from several temples across the State, including the Lord Venkateshwara Swamy temple here and Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada. In the context of the Central Information Commission's (CIC) question to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Culture Ministry, the Andhra Pradesh government and the shrine of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) over the missing ornaments inside the temple, Chandrababu Naidu should take responsibility for the issue and resign to his Chief Ministerialship, he demanded. Else, there is a need for a fair trial by the CBI or a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, he added.

Bhumana said that he was ready to face CBI investigation over the allegations being made by the TDP leaders, in regard to the alleged irregularities during the period when he served as the TTD Chairman. "I had staged a hunger strike for eight days in demand for a CBI investigation over the allegations levveled against me. On the eighth day, head priest of the Kutralam shrine, Shri Siddheshwara Swamy made me break the fast. After that, I had requested the Governor and the High Court to carry out a CBI investigation. Why is it that the Tirumala shrine is not being included under the purview of the Right To Information Act, and why did the government not welcome the proposal to bring the shrine under the gambit of the Department of Archaeology & Museums?" he questioned.

Chandrababu Eyes Golla Mandapam

The YSRCP leader recalled that when Chandrababu was in power in 2004, the 1000-pillar Mandapam was demolished. Now, the TDP government is planning to demolish the Golla Mandapam, he added.

"Where are the ornaments donated by 16th century Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishna Devaraya to the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati? Why did the government not disclose the report given by Justice Wadwa and Justice Jagannadha Rao? In 2011, the Director of Museum Committee said that the details of the ornaments were inscribed on the temple's walls. Yet, the TTD maintained that all the ornaments are safe and secure," he said.

Also Read: Are Jewels Of Tirumala Deities Safe?