Politics has further heated up over a spike in attacks on places of Hindu religion in Andhra Pradesh. Slamming Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy over growing incidents of such attacks, the BJP on Friday, under the call of “Chalo Amalapuram” to save Hindu temples, staged a march which was foiled by the Andhra Police by imposing Section 144.
As a result, several BJP leaders including state unit chief Somu Veerraju were placed under house detention. Amalapuram is a big town in East Godavari where the incident of burning of the iconic chariot took place a few days ago. Several BJP workers were supposed to participate in “Chalo Amalapuram” to protest against the “torching” of the celestial chariot.
The saffron party has, however, alleged that incidents of attack on temples belonging to Hindu religion have gone up ever since the Jagan government took over the charge in Andhra Pradesh. The BJP also alleged that such happenings cannot take place without the support of the ruling party.
Senior leaders including Purandeswari and BJP vice President Vishnu Vardhan Reddy were arrested before they marched towards Amalapuram. This resulted in a political storm followed by tension in the state with BJP launching massive verbal attacks on the AP government and the ruling party YSRCP.
Earlier, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eluru Range), K.V. Mohan Rao said, “Section 144 has been imposed across the Amalapuram Revenue Division in view of COVID19.” He said no permission has been granted to “Chalo Amalapuram” march in view of the pandemic.
Police took Vishnuvardhan Reddy into custody and put him in the police car roaming all day. Somu Veerraju lashed out at the AP government for what he called illegally filing cases against BJP leaders.
Veerraju said, “The state government has not taken the attacks on temples seriously. It files cases against devotees who go to temples. It should change its stand or we will intensify our protests. The government is provoking and threatening us.”
Amalapuram Chamber of Commerce also called for a shutdown and supported the ongoing protests against the Antarvedi incident. Most of the business establishments were shut in Amalapuram. Large number of policemen were deployed in Amalapuram and parts of East Godavari districts to prevent any untoward incidents.
BJP national spokesman and MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao and another MP C.M. Ramesh urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the Centre’s intervention to improve law and order situation in Andhra.
Deploring the attacks on the temple, Rao said that the AP government did not act properly in these cases. Rao said, “Andhra Pradesh government is acting against Hindu activists in a revengeful manner.”
He mentioned in the letter to the Centre that 18 attacks have taken place on Hindu temples in a year.
