Pejavar mutt seer seeks Amit Shah's intervention in temple vandalism in Andhra Pradesh

UDUPI: Close on the heels of his discussion on developments in Andhra Pradesh with Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha of Pejavar Mutt on Saturday visited ancient Sita Lakshmana Kodandarama Temple in Vizianagaram district in that state.
Taking stock of the situation there, the swamiji shot off a letter to union home minister Amit Shah urging him to intervene in this matter.
The swamiji in the letter informed Shah that the Andhra Pradesh government was not taking any decisive action to nab the culprits involved in the alleged desecration of Hindu temples there.
Miscreants, the swamiji said, had desecrated the idol of Lord Rama at the above temple on Bodikonda Hillock in Ramatheertham. Their actions of breaking open the historical temple and desecrating the 400-year-old idol has enraged the Hindu community, he said.
The severed portion of the idol was retrieved from the nearby temple pond. Although the incident took place about 20 days ago, the government there has not done much to apprehend the miscreants and its indifference was quite evident. This attack on the Ramatheertham temple is not a stray incident. Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing a series of spiteful incidents of temple vandalism for the past one-and-a-half-years, the seer contended.
Citing these incidents, the seer said gutting of temple chariots at Bitragunta in Nellore in February, Antarvedi in East Godavari in September and desecration of several Hindu idols at Pithapuram in January this year are some of the prominent malicious acts. More than 120 such attacks have taken place in the last 18-months and these appear to be premeditated and done to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, the swamiji said.
The miscreants are resorting to such acts due to inaction of the state government as no serious action has been taken to apprehend those behind such heinous acts of temple vandalism. The government is unresponsive to the call and appeal of the Hindus to protect their temples. These incidents are affecting the entire Hindu community. Intervention of the union home ministry is essential given the state government’s apathy, the swamiji said.