Hyderabad: The visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the Bhagyalaxmi Temple, abutting the historic Charminar, on Sunday has erupted a political row. Shah was in the city to campaign for the high-stake upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.
Taking to Twitter, Shah wrote, "Took blessings at Maa Bhagyalakshmi temple in Hyderabad and prayed for the prosperity of the people of Telangana. May Maa Lakshmi bless the entire nation with good health and happiness."
The Bhagyalaxmi temple, situated in the old city area of Hyderabad, is a minority-dominated area, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) has a stronghold here.
TRS leaders have claimed that BJP is intentionally highlighting the topic of Bhagyalaxmi Temple as it is located in a sensitive area.
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Political analyst and former MLA Nageshwar said that BJP is raking up the issue of the temple to polarise votes.
"What is even more unfortunate is that AIMIM and BJP have a tactic understanding," he added.
He said, "Bhagyalaxmi Temple is a disputed religious place and BJP wants to incite communal tensions. BJP has no agenda, they only want polarisation of votes. Even AIMIM is the same."
Telangana BJP chief spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao hit back at the TRS and said that the ruling party is exaggerating Amit Shah's visit to the temple.
He said, "TRS leader KT Rama Rao has made a mockery of Shah's visit to Bhagyalaxmi Temple and it has hurt the sentiments of the people of Hyderabad."
"Do we need to take permission from MIM to visit the temples situated in the old city? Will KTR and his father Chandrashekhar Rao tell us which temple should our party president visit? TRS's minority appeasement policy has made Bhagyalaxmi temple a disputed place," the BJP leader said.
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TRS said that by visiting the Bhagyalaxmi temple, BJP wants to send a message that TRS cannot insult or downplay Hindus. However, AIMIM also said that using the temple issue, BJP wants to polarise votes in Hyderabad.
The BJP has been promising to rename Hyderabad to Bhagya Nagar if voted to power in GHMC elections.
The saffron party is eyeing to expand its base in Telangana and has roped in popular party faces for the election campaigns.
