Published 20:32 IST, September 28th 2020
Andhra DGP assures temple vandalism incidents ‘isolated’ amid BJP criticism for CM Jagan
Allaying fears of communal tensions, Andhra Pradesh DGP Goutam Sawang on Monday, reaffirmed that 19 incidents of temple vandalism in past 3 weeks were isolated
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Allaying fears of communal tensions, Andhra Pradesh DGP Goutam Sawang on Monday, reaffirmed that 19 incidents of temple vandalism in the past three weeks were isolated events. Sawang asked citizens to not link the events and act only on facts. He added that of the 19 incidents - the accused had been arrested in connection to 12 cases, while the remaining will be nabbed soon.
Temple incidents not linked: Andhra DGP
There is no connection between these 19 incidents that have been reported in last 3 weeks. In 12 cases, we have arrested the accused. We are very certain that we will also detect the accused in the remaining 7 cases: Andhra Pradesh DGP Goutam Sawang on recent attacks on temples https://t.co/zkxcYzsBFd
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2020
Recent temple vandalism incidents in Andhra
The latest Andhra temple vandalism occurred on Sunday when a 'Nandi' idol was reportedly vandalised in a temple in Chittoor district. Police allege that the vandals had broken open the idol based on rumours that gold had been poured into the Nandi idol. On finding nothing, the men left the temple, say police. The investigation is underway.
The first major incident which grabbed the spotlight was when the wooden chariot of the famous Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Antarvedi in East Godavari district was gutted in a fire mishap in the wee hours of September 6. The 40-feet high chariot made of teak wood, which caught fire in the temple shed at the premises, led to massive protests by BJP and TDP. Amid intense criticism of religious intolerance, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy had ordered a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Other temple vandalism incidents include - damage of a Nandi idol in Kasi Visweswara Swamy temple at Makkapeta village in Krishna village, a Hanuman idol in Yeleswaram temple, and theft of "three silver lions of sacred Radha” in Vijayawada’s Kanaka Durga temple, as per reports. Police have registered cases under all events and have warned people to not 'spin stories' as it would lead to communal disharmony.
Opposition allege intolerence, YSRCP denies
After the Antarvedi chariot fire, hundreds of activists from the Bajrang Dal, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Haindava Sakthi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh protested outside the site, while the state BJP and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party called an 11-hour hunger strike demanding a probe into the incident. Joining hands with the saffron party, TDP too alleged that the YSRCP did not treat all religions “equally”, alluding to the Christian CM Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Recently, keeping in tradition to CMs, Jagan visited the Tirumala temple in Tirupati, for the nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festival, when the most recent 'vandalism' took place. Reports state that now the BJP has asked Jagan to sign a faith declaration form. In retaliation, YSRCP spokesperson Ambati Rambabu on Thursday said the opposition's implication about YSRCP involvement in the temple attacks is an 'utter lie', alleging TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu's hand in the Vijaywada vandalism.
20:32 IST, September 28th 2020