Bandh Over Vemulawada Temple Closure Peaceful
The government had announced that the temple would remain closed from June 15 for two years to undertake major developmental works
KARIMNAGAR: Vemulawada town in Rajanna Sircilla district observed a peaceful bandh on Wednesday in protest against the state government's decision to temporarily close the famous Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple for developmental works. The bandh was called by the Rajanna Temple Protection Committee and witnessed voluntary participation from residents, traders and leaders of various political parties.
The government had announced that the temple would remain closed from June 15 for two years to undertake major developmental works. The project, estimated at Rs 47 crore, will be carried out under the guidance of the Sringeri Peetam.
Committee chairman Pratap Ramakrishnan criticised the decision, alleging that the government had announced the project without a clear blueprint, official map or Detailed Project Report (DPR), leaving devotees in confusion. He further accused the authorities of hurting religious sentiments by planning to remove Hindu deities surrounding the temple. Instead of acting on repeated appeals from devotees to remove a dargah situated within the temple premises, officials were more focused on closing the temple itself, he criticised.
He demanded that the government revoke the closure order, continue regular pujas and darshan without interruption during the development period, share the DPR with the public, and ensure that temple fixed deposits or internal revenue are not used for the project. He also sought clarity on funding sources.
Ramakrishnan urged the authorities to explain their plans for the associated Sri Baddi Pochamma Temple and to assure that no subsidiary idols (Parivara Devata Vigrahalu) or Kotilingas would be removed. The agitation would escalate if the government remained unresponsive to the appeals of devotees and the local community, he warned.
