Andhra DGP rebuts Chandrababu Naidu's claims on temple vandalism; lists police's efforts

Highlighting efforts taken by Andhra Presh Police Department to prevent cases of temple vandalism, DGP D Gautam Sawang said that Police station level communal harmony committees and 23,256 vill defence squs are being set up. He also expressed his disappointment over comments me by Opposition leers including former CM Chandrababu Naidu, ding that a multi-pronged strategy is in place to ensure safety of religious institutions in state.

Speaking to media in Vijayawa, DGP said, "I have never heard se words in 34 years of my service. He also called comments by Naidu detestable and very unfortunate." He also said, " government has alrey set up state and district level committees for communal harmony. Taking it a step furr, we are setting up such committees at police station level, besides forming vill defence squs."

DGP said that desecrated idol of Lord Ram was at a hillock, "Though it was an old structure on hillock, in our security audit, re was a recommendation to install cameras, but that could t happen because re was power connection re. Just three days before incident, an electricity line was laid and four cameras were about to be set up, but before it could be installed, incident took place,"  DGP said.

RE | Andhra Presh Government Constitutes 16-member SIT To Probe Recent Attacks On Temples

Steps taken by Andhra Presh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy 

While CM Jagan termed vandalism as Opposition's conspiracy, his state government also constituted a 16-member SIT to probe attacks.  SIT will investigate all temple-related cases since September 2020. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy also anunced that he will be forming a 7-member State Level Communal Harmony Committee, along with district-level committees. committee heed by state's Chief Secretary will comprise DGP, principal secretaries (Home, Endowments, Mirity Welfare, Political) and one member from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Or communities. Condemning recent spate of events, Reddy said that remote temples are being attacked each time government launches an important scheme.

ditionally, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered a CID inquiry into incident of desecration of Lord Ram idol in Sri Rama Swamy Devasthanam in Vizianagaram district and directed  State Endowments Ministry for revation and repair work of temple. He also laid foundation stone for  new idol of Lord Ram.

RE | Andhra CM Jagan Orders New Ram Idol, Modernisation & CID Probe In Ramateerth Vandalism

RE | Andhra CM Jagan Constitutes State 'Communal Harmony Committees' Amid Temple Vandalisms

Chandrababu Naidu's stinging attack

In a stinging attack over temple and idol desecration, TDP president and former CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that he is a "betrayer of Hindus." Demanding an explanation from Reddy and a CBI probe,  former CM asked as to why has he t visited temple till w to express solidarity, while also pointing out that such religious intolerance has increased in Andhra Presh under YSRCP government. Naidu me comments during his visit to  Ramateertham temple, and also alleged that CM Reddy was a Christian, and refore t a single accused person has been arrested so far. 

Naidu said, "Jagan Reddy may be a Christian. But thinking that he can use this power to converts Hindus is wrong. If people in power resort to religious conversions, it amounts to betrayal. One should t show such religious intolerance. 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan resounds in Ayodhya’s Ram temple. Similarly, Ramateertham Rama temple has always been held in high respect in rth Andhra. In such a temple, miscreants have vandalised Lord Rama idol but government was t taking any steps to catch culprits."

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