Andhra BJP chief demands removal of DGP in temple vandalism case

Reacting strongly to Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang’s statement blaming the BJP leaders for a series of attacks on temples in the state, state BJP president Somu Veerraju on Monday demanded his removal. He asked Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to remove Gautam Sawang from the DGP’s post for making baseless allegations.

DGP Gautam Sawang released details of political links in the desecration of temple idol cases and false propaganda on social media. He claimed that 21 people belonging to the TDP and the BJP were identified and 15 were arrested so far. Amongst the 21 people involved in nine cases, 17 belong to the TDP and four to the BJP. So far, 13 of those from the TDP and two from the BJP have been arrested.

The state BJP chief says that the YSRCP has been trying to weaken Hinduism in the state. The BJP leader said not a single case has been filed regarding the attacks on the temples. Veerraju questioned whether the government was giving monthly remuneration to the pastors for religious conversions? “Many have been enjoying the reservation by retaining their Hindu names, though the Supreme Court had rejected the concept of Dalit Christians,” He pointed out.