The BJP questioned the Chief Minister’s “silence” on alleged attempts by a Christian organization to grab the temple land.
The BJP questioned the Chief Minister’s “silence” on alleged attempts by a Christian organization to grab the temple land.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has written a letter to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy urging him to Protect the land of Bhadrachalam temple,
In a letter written on Tuesday, BJP Andhra Pradesh state president Somu Veeraraju said that the Bhadrachalam temple (in Telangana state) land comes under the jurisdiction of AP’s East Godavari district. The temple lands located in seven mandals were transferred to Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh in 2014. After the formation of new districts in Andhra Pradesh, a land mafia has set its sights on temple land, which now comes under Alluri Manyam district and Paderu.
“The mafia has grabbed the temple land under the guise of a Christian organization,” he said, adding that the mafia was mounting pressure on the officials of the Endowment Department and resorting to illegal activities. Despite this, the government is keeping silent,” Mr. Veeraraju alleged.
Purushottammudu, a devotee, bought the land from the British in 1867 and donated it to the same RO temple. The passbook was in the name of Lord Ram. A YSRCP leader was involved in the encroachment of temple land. According to the inscriptions the temple has about 980 acres of land.
The BJP leader said that the police was trying to hide the matter by treating it as a civil dispute only.
Endowments Minister Kottu Satyanarayana did not respond though the matter was brought to his notice. “This made me write an open letter to you. Expecting necessary action from the government,” he said.