Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that income of temples in Andhra Pradesh has grown by 27 per cent in a year, attributing it to “growing sins and increased troubles” of people. He said that people would go mad without temples, churches and mosques.
During his inaugural address at the two-day conference of district collectors here, referring to the “growing sins and increased troubles” of people, he said, “People are committing sins. Some are facing troubles and to get rid of them they are going to temples and praying. If they are facing more troubles and committing more sins, they are coming to temples and offering money. It’s a fact.”
“Not just temples, people are visiting churches and mosques for solace. Many people would have gone mad if there are no temples, churches or mosques,” he said.
He pointed out that the income of AP’s temples had grown by 27 per cent without any effort from the authorities. While some were donating money as penance for sins, others were taking Ayyappa deekshas just to abstain from alcohol, he said, adding that income from liquor went down during the same period. The CM was addressing collectors and top bureaucrats.
