A stone thrown at a Church window in Karnataka had become a national news. Despite several incidents of vandalism of Hindu temples, national media has not given the attention they deserve.
Chariot belonging to Prasanna Venkateswara Temple at Kondabitragunta Village in Nellore was completely burnt down on February 13th
In a series of concerning incidents in Andhra Pradesh, several Hindu temples and their properties have been attacked in what seems to be a systematically planned exercise. While the burning of the chariot belonging to the Prasanna Venkateswara Temple at Kondabitragunta Village made news on social media, several other instances that have occured in the last few days have not been given the attention they deserve.
Among the series of attacks on Hindu Temples in Andhra Pradesh, the most notable are below:
Incident 1 – On 13th February, a Chariot belonging to the famous Prasanna Venkateswara Temple at Kondabitragunta Village, Bogol Mandal in Nellore District was completely burnt down. The attackers had poured inflammable liquid on the chariot and set it afire during midnight. The use of inflammable liquid was corroborated by the police too. The miscreants are yet to be nabbed.
The villagers say that the Brahmaratotsavam and a Chariot Festival was to be conducted from March 4th. The devotees now are anguished over the burning down of the chariot.
Incident 2 – On 5th February, idols of dieties at Sri Venu Gopala Swamy Temple were destroyed in Rompicharla village in Guntur District. Ganesha idol was stolen by some miscreants. The temple was constructed during the Gupta period and despite its antiquity not much security was provided to the temple.
Incident 3 – On January 21st this year, unknown miscreants desecrated many idols of Hindu god and goddesses in Pithapuram city in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. They als burnt down the flex banners which had images of Hindu gods printed on them.
Incident 4 – In March 2019, two old Hindu temples in Suryaraopeta, Kakinada Rural mandal of East Godhavari District, Andhra Pradesh were demolished by a Church Pastor using a JCB machine. The pastor had a church nearby. He also took away the antique idols of Goddess which was the presiding deity of the temple.
Two Hindu temples in Suryaraopeta in East Godhavari District of Andhra Pradesh were demolished by a Church Pastor. He also stole the antique idols from the temple
Legal forum writes to Home Minister
Anguished over these recent incidents perpetrated against Hindu temples and idols, Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) has written to the Andhra Home Minister and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. LRPF in its request letter says that the AP police department has to be tasked with providing adequate protection to the Hindu temples.
LRPF letter provides the details of the above mentioned incidents along with the news reports. Most of the incidents have been reported in the local media but they have not been given the due coverage. It can be recalled that even a small incident of stone thrown at a Church in Karnataka was made into a national news and the media debated over it for days. Despite several such incidents of vandalism of Hindu temples, no national media has the wherewithal to cover the same.
Suspecting criminal conspiracy behind the series of attacks on Hindu Temples, LRPF urges the Home Minister of AP and Centre to pass directions to the concerned police authorities to take necessary steps and to arrange protection to the Temples in Andhra Pradesh in order to prevent such incidents in future.
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