Andhra CM Jagan orders new Ram idol, modernisation & CID probe in Ramateerth vandalism

A day after Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy blamed the Opposition over the attacks on Hindu temples, his government has ordered a CID inquiry into the incident of desecration of Lord Ram idol in Sri Rama Swamy Devasthanam in Vizianagaram district. State Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivasa Rao said that the Chief Minister has also ordered the renovation and repair work of the temple and has said that a new idol of Lord Ram will be installed there. 

This comes even as a day earlier, CM Jagan said that attacks are happening in remote areas and that the temples are not under the Endowments Department. The Chief Minister and YSRCP chief also directed the Andhra Police to come up with plans to prevent such attacks 

READ | Andhra CM Jagan breaks silence on Hindu temples' vandalism; sees political conspiracy

Breaking his silence on the incidents earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Jagan pointed out that all the attacks took place before the launch of Government programs. Hinting at an Opposition conspiracy behind the incidents, he cited nine instances where the attack on the temples coincided with launch of various welfare schemes by his government. The Andhra CM also described attacks on temples as "political guerrilla warfare" intended to defame Andhra Police and divert the attention of people from the work that his government is doing.

READ | After Lord Rama, another deity's idol desecrated in Andhra Pradesh; 2nd incident in a week

A 400-year-old idol of Lord Rama at the Sri Rama Swamy Devasthanam in Vizianagaram district and Lord Subrahmanya Swamy's idol in Lord Vigneshwara temple of Rajahmundry district were found in a desecrated condition, bringing the Jagan Mohan-led Andhra government under fierce criticism. While Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has demanded a CBI probe, BJP's state in-charge Sunil Deodhar compared the current spate of attacks on temples to the destruction of Goa temples in the 16th century. Terming the vandalization of Lord Ram's idol as "horrific", he claimed that the AP government was tacitly supporting a "particular religion". Moreover, he lambasted the police's failure to catch the culprits. Moreover, even as Andhra government faced backlash, BJP's Sunil Deodhar on Sunday said that a Goddess Sita idol was found broken in the Sitaram Temple near Pandit Nehru Busstop in Vijayawada.

Andhra govt sacks TDP leader 

Amid the uproar over the vandalization, the Andhra Pradesh government squarely placed the blame on a senior TDP leader.  According to a government memo dated January 2, former Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been sacked as the Chairman of the Trust board for not only the shrine where the vandalization took place but also the Sri Pyditalli Ammavari Devasthanam and the Sri Mandeswara Swamy Temple. This action has been taken in accordance with Section 28 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act. Alleging that he failed to discharge his "legitimate duties", Raju has been accused of neglecting the security aspects of the temple in connection with the vandalization of Lord Ram's idol. 

READ | 'CM Jagan Betrayer Of Hindus; May Be Christian': Chandrababu Naidu Slams Idol Desecration

READ | Andhra govt sacks TDP leader as Temple Trust chairman after vandalization of Lord Ram idol