Andhraites neglected even our Gods, says Telangana CM

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday slammed rulers of undivided AP, accusing them of wanton neglect of Telangana temples and ‘Pushkaralu’.

He promised to take up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Archaeological Survey of India the development of the 7th Century Sri Jogulamba Balabrahmeshwara Swamy temple, fifth of the 18 Shaktipeethas in the country in Alampur  of  Mahbubnagar district, 200 km from here.

“I am lucky to be here to take a holy dip and have darshan of Jogulamba. Of the 18 Shaktipeethas, Jogulamba takes panchama sthanam (5th place) in the country. Most people are unaware of this. And the reason is Andhra rulers,” he said.

“In undivided AP, the rulers did not treat our Gods as Gods, our rivers as rivers. They never organised Krishna pushkaralu in Alampur despite being a Shaktipeetha,” Mr Rao said.

Stating that the government was reviving Telangana traditions and culture, he said that the state successfully organised Godavari pushkaralu.

Mr Rao, along with wife Shobha and other family members, took a holy dip at Gondimalla Pushkara Ghat at Alampur of Mahbubnagar district at 5.58 am on the first of the 12-day Krishna pushkaralu. They had darshan of presiding deity Jogulamba and other deities.

On the request of MLA S.A. Sampath, Mr Rao promised to take up development of temple and the backward Alampur Assembly constituency after puskaralu.

“During T-movement and when RDS issue cropped up, I undertook padayatra from Jogulamba temple to Gadwal. Thanks to Ammavaru, Telangana has been achieved. We will provide irrigation to 87,500 acres under RDS,” he said.

Mr Rao announced establishment of a 100-bed hospital at Alampur so that people would not have to go to Kurnool.