Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh escapes coconut strike at Medaram jatara

WARANGAL: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who was in Medaram on Thursday, had a tough time escaping flying coconuts and jaggery when he entered the Sammakka altar. Devotees who came for darshan at Medaram jatara threw coconuts and jaggery into the altars of Sammakka and Saralamma.

Raman Singh is a Z-plus category protectee, but National Security Guard commandos could do little to protect him from a coconut which almost hit him.

Despite 10-ft high iron fencing to prevent devotees from throwing their offerings inside, some of the offerings reached the altar. Officials working around the altars were wearing helmets.

Mr Singh was taken to the Medaram temple along with a strong posse of NSG commandos. He stepped inside the altar amid showers of coconuts and jaggery. A coconut flew right past him and the authorities offered him a helmet. Soon, the commandos whisked him away towards the exit gate even as officials were expecting him to go to the Saralamma altar as well.

Though some of the local BJP leaders asked him to wait for a brief period and relax, he did not stay back. He went to the helipad and left immediately.

BJP leaders expressed displeasure saying proper security protocol was not maintained and local police failed in taking him to the Saralamma altar. They even raised slogans against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari refuted the comments.