Twitter Users Lash Out At YSRCP

Twitter users criticised the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy led Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) for demolishing a temple in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

On the 16th of November, the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) demolished a Kanaka Durga temple at Kolli Sarada Market, Guntur.

Despite protests from locals, the GMC demolished the years old temple. The GMC defended its action by saying the demolition of the temple was a part of the road widening work. The YSRCP plan to widen the road leading to Nandivelugu in Guntur.

However, the locals protested and said the GMC did not give them any notice regarding the demolition of the temple. The issue was also given a religious angle.

Lanka Dinakar, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP,) blamed the YSRCP for demolishing the 30 year old temple and disrespecting the Hindus in the State. Mr. Dinakar said, “Recently, the room rents, darshan fees fixed for certain section of people for priority darshan and laddu prices have been raised and on the other hand, the assistance for Jerusalem pilgrimages has been raised up to Rs. 60,000. The cost of the proposed Lord Venkateswara Temple in Amaravathi has been reduced from 150 crores to just Rs. 30 crores by altering the original plan and infrastructure around it. How far will this kind of dual stand be maintained by the Jagan Mohan Reddy Government.”

Though the temple committee members clarified the demolition took place after their consent, the citizens blamed the GMC, the YSRCP and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The temple authorities said, “There were talks held with the temple committee and the authorities, but the way in which the temple was demolished is unfair." They further added, "Whatever said and done, officials should have allowed us to remove the deity and install it in the new place before going ahead with demolition. We would not have minded. We are not against development (sic.)"

However, the GMC officials denied the allegations and said the notice was given to the concerned authorities. They also provided an alternative piece of land for constructing another temple.

V. Suneeta, the GMC City Planner, addressed The News Minute and said, “We have already provided an alternate land nearby, and construction (of the temple) work has also begun. How would that happen if they hadn’t been notified?”

Twitter users, with #SaveHindusFromJaganReddy in their posts, are criticising Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.