Temple Visit Shows Power of Bhagyalakshmi: Bandi

Hyderabad: Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday took a dig at BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao for visiting the Bhagyalakshmi temple, saying the deity appeared to have brought “wisdom” to the leader. Rama Rao had earlier ridiculed Sanjay’s visit to the temple during the GHMC elections.

Speaking at the Bonalu celebrations of the Lal Darwaza Simhavahini Mahankali temple in the Old City, Sanjay said Rama Rao’s visit to the temple showed the “immense power” of Bhagyalakshmi Mata.

Sanjay criticised the state government over the funds allocated for the Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple. He alleged that the government had provided only Rs 5.5 lakh for the temple’s Bonalu celebrations, despite the festival attracting more than one lakh devotees.

“How can such a small amount be sufficient for a temple visited by over one lakh devotees,” he asked. Sanjay alleged that the government had allocated Rs 33 crore for Ramzan-related programmes, while only Rs 20 crore had been earmarked for Bonalu celebrations, even though Hindus constitute more than 80 per cent of the state’s population.

He alleged that the earlier BRS government had promised Rs 20 crore for the development of the Lal Darwaza Ujjaini Mahankali temple but failed to fulfil the commitment. He accused former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of deceiving not only the people with many promises but also the Hindu community.

Claiming that the Old City’s Hindu residents regularly pay taxes, Sanjay demanded that funds be released for the development of their temples. He said the BJP would organise Bonalu celebrations in the Old City on a grand scale if it came to power and promised comprehensive infrastructure and facilities for devotees. He also said the Bhagyalakshmi temple would be developed on the lines of a “Golden Temple” and called upon the youth to work for the protection of Sanatana Dharma.

Sanjay carried a bonam over his head and offered it to the Goddess Mahankali at Lal Darwaja. BJP MLA Rakesh Reddy, senior leader Manohar Reddy and others visited the temple. Earlier, he visited Bhagyalakshmi Mandir at Charminar and other temples in the old city.