BJP-TDP tussle over temple demolitions

The BJP, with the support of other saffron groups, is protesting the demolition of nearly 30 temples in Vijayawada in the name of development by their political ally, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The BJP, with the support of other saffron groups, is protesting the demolition of nearly 30 temples in Vijayawada in the name of development by their political ally, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

BJP leaders claim that some of the temples being demolished are over 100 years old. (HT Photo)

While BJP leaders say the temples are historical and over a 100 years old, the TDP government claims these temples block the smooth flow of traffic. In the last 15 days, the Vijayawada civic administration demolished several temples for widening the Eluru road, in order to facilitate smooth flow of traffic between Gannavaram airport and Amaravati. Temples on the banks of the Krishna river were also razed as part of the development of “bathing ghats” for the Krishna Pushkarams to be held in August.

“Some of the temples are very old. For example, the Lord Hanuman temple on the river bank is more than 100 years old. So are the Sitamma Padalu temple and a Saneeshwara temple on the adjacent road. They were demolished using bulldozers without even informing temple authorities, and the presiding deities were dumped like garbage. Even the ancient inscriptions were thrown on the road without bothering to know their historical value,” local BJP MLC Somu Veerraju told HT.

“The demolition of temples that are in the middle of the road is inevitable to provide infrastructure keeping the needs for 50 years. We will however do it as per the temple rules,” he assured.

Last week, the authorities planned to demolish a Ganesh temple on Canal Road, but abandoned the task, as they met with stiff resistance from local people and traders.

BJP leaders allege that the demolition is being taken up at the behest of local TDP leaders, keeping endowments minister M Manikyala Rao from the BJP, in the dark. On Sunday evening, BJP leaders were stopped by TDP leaders, resulting in clashes between the two groups.

“We were holding a meeting at the Goshala (cow shed) near the Krishna river, when TDP leaders came to the spot and tried to push us away. We said we are not against development, but they have to respect the sentiments of the people and relocate the temples as per the Agama Sastra,” Veerraju said.

On Monday, the Dhar ma Parirakshna Samithi held a rally in Vijaywada to protest the indiscriminate demolition of temples.