In a strategic move to counter the opposition and silence the critics over vandalism in temples and desecration of Hindu god idols, YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy came out with a plan to rebuild major temples in Vijayawada that were demolished during the Chandrababu Naidu regime for road widening.
On Friday, Jagan laid foundation stones for the reconstruction of nine temples in Vijayawada – Rahu-Kethu Temple, Sri Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Sri Seethamma Vari Paadaalu, Dakshinamukha Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Saneeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Daasaanjaneya Swamy Vaari Temple, Boddu Bomma, Sri Veera Babu Swamy Temple and Gosala Krishna Temple.
Wearing traditional Hindu attire of dhoti and uttareeyam, and taking part in the rituals amidst chanting of Vedic hymns, the chief minister performed bhumi pooja for the reconstruction of these nine temples.
He also laid foundation stone for other eight development works of worth Rs 77 crore in Kanaka Durga temple.
Honourary chief priest of Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala A V Ramana Deekshitulu, who has been expressing his resentment at the TTD for over the last few months over not restoration of his original position in the temple, expressed happiness over the reconstruction of demolished temples in Vijayawada.
At the same time, Deekshitulu has raised a query.
“I pray Lord Venkateshwara to shower His blessings on Jagan for taking up reconstruction of temples. But I also request the Jagan government and the TTD to see that the thousand pillars mandal, which was demolished over a decade ago, be restored again” he said.
He said the devotees would be extremely happy, if the thousand pillars mandapam and Srivari Theru Mandapam were also rebuilt with the same spirit of reconstruction of demolished temples.
He addressed his comments through social media to the chief minister as well as TTD trust board chairman Y V Subba Reddy.