In a significant appeal, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Telangana has urged both the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, and Telangana, Revanth Reddy, to prioritize the protection of the Bhadrachalam Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple lands. This call to action comes as the leaders discuss various issues arising from the bifurcation of the Telugu states.
The VHP has emphasized the historical significance and the need for immediate action to safeguard the temple’s assets. As per the appeal, a devotee, Sri Somaraju Purushottama Dasu, had originally donated 917 acres of land to the temple through a registered will on October 12, 1878. Currently, 889.50 acres remain under the temple’s name. Despite numerous legal victories for the temple over the past seven decades, there have been persistent attempts by encroachers to seize this land.
After the bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Bhadrachalam Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple came under the jurisdiction of the present Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana, while the temple lands are now located in the present Purushottapatnam village, Etapaka mandal, Alluri Sitarama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh. The situation has become more precarious since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
During the tenure of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSRCP party, the 889.50 acres of Bhadrachalam temple lands in Purushottapatnam were subjected to rampant encroachments with the support of local representatives and YSRCP leaders. Illegal structures appeared overnight, and prayer halls of other religions were also established on the temple lands. Despite numerous appeals by the VHP state branch for appropriate actions, the then Chief Minister of the TRS party, KCR, who was not inclined to offer silk clothes to Bhadrachalam Rama, never took any initiative to protect the Bhadrachalam temple lands.
In a press release issued by B. Narasimha Murthy, President of VHP Telangana, states when Bhadrachalam temple authorities took direct action to protect the temple lands, the encroachers resorted to physical assaults. These attacks on the temple authorities were carried out with the support of the YSRCP party. The AP police, following the verbal orders of Jagan Mohan Reddy, did not attempt to stop the encroachers and indirectly supported them. They did not even register a case regarding the physical assaults on the authorities.
In 2022, the temple authorities and devotees filed separate petitions in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. On November 7, 2022, the then Chief Justice of the AP High Court issued a ruling ordering the AP state government and 14 related departments to protect the Bhadrachalam temple lands and remove the encroachments. However, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government ignored the High Court’s ruling and even encouraged the encroachments. In response to this negligence, the temple authorities and devotees filed contempt of court cases against the AP government. These cases are currently under trial. Additionally, VHP has noted that the Purushottapatnam agency, where the Bhadrachalam temple lands are located, falls under the jurisdiction of Agency Act 1/70.
The authorities of the Bhadrachalam Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple, have so far lodged approximately 46 written complaints with Andhra Pradesh state revenue officials. However, no actions have been taken, and no FIR has been registered regarding the ongoing encroachments.
VHP also alleges that during the tenure of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, significant encroachments occurred on the temple lands, allegedly with the support of local representatives and YSRCP leaders. Illegal structures, including prayer halls of other religions, appeared overnight. Despite multiple appeals, the then Chief Minister of Telangana, KCR, did not take substantial steps to protect these lands.
Temple authorities have been proactive in their efforts to safeguard the property, lodging 46 written complaints with various Andhra Pradesh officials, yet no actions have been taken. In 2022, temple authorities and devotees filed petitions in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which ordered the state government and related departments to protect the temple lands and remove encroachments. However, the Jagan Mohan Reddy administration allegedly ignored this ruling, prompting further legal actions from the temple authorities and devotees.
The VHP, Telanana has brought this issue to the forefront as both Chief Ministers meet to resolve bifurcation-related issues on Saturday in Hyderabad. They have demanded that the protection of the 889.50 acres of Bhadrachalam temple lands be a primary agenda item. The VHP calls for a joint action plan to remove the encroachments and establish permanent measures for safeguarding the temple assets.
Additionally, the VHP recommends forming a joint task force committee to take legal actions to protect the properties of prominent temples, including the Bhadrachalam and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. They also urge the release of a white paper on the temple lands by both Telugu states to ensure transparency and accountability.
The VHP’s plea underscores the need for collaborative efforts between the states to preserve and protect the cultural and religious heritage represented by these temple lands.
