Andhra: Antravedi chariot gutting triggers unrest from opposition parties

Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have staged a protest against YSRCP govt after the burning of a 62-year-old chariot in Antravedi demanding the immediate release of arrested party workers. BJP leaders have stated that if the state govt fails to take any appropriate action they will approach the Central govt.

Amravati: Andhra Pradesh BJP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) on Thursday held separate protests against YSRCP government over the gutting of Antarvedi chariot.

State BJP leaders have alleged that the attacks on Hindu temples have increased drastically after YSRCP came to power while the JSP demanded a response from Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Vamaraju Satyamurty, BJP General Secretary in Andhra Pradesh told reporters, "The police should identify and arrest the real culprits otherwise we will intensify our agitation." Like in Mughal rule, attacks on Hindu temples became a regular practice, the BJP alleged.

"In case the state government will not take any concrete step in Antarvedi incident, we will complain to the Central government for dismissal of the state government," BJP leaders said.

JSP demanded to take stern action against the culprits in this case. The party demanded a response from Chief Minister on the Antravedi incident and demanded the resignation of state Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas Rao.

READ:Antarvedi temple issue: Leaders house arrested in Andhra Pradesh to avoid agitation

JSP leader PV Mahesh alleged that the Endowments Minister is inefficient and incapable. He did not care for the development of temples and alleged that Rao has looted Hindu temples' money through corrupt practices.

"Many attacks on temples took place in the past 15 months under the leadership of YSRCP but no action is taken even in the single case. This has lead to the Antarvedi mishap.

Both BJP and JSP leaders have demanded the immediate release of the party workers who were arrested yesterday on their way to Antarvedi.

The chariot of the famous Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Antarvedi of East Godavari district was gutted in a fire mishap in the early hours of September 6.

Srinivas stated that a conspiracy has been going on against Jagan Mohan Reddy government to tarnish its image. The minister assured that a new chariot would be prepared before the Lord's celestial festival in February.

The BJP leaders alleged that ever since YSRCP has come to power there have been a lot of attacks on various temples which has hurt the sentiments of various Hindu religious groups. Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan also condemned the Antarvedi incident.

READ:No arrests yet in AP's Antarvedi temple chariot blaze

With agency inputs