Controversy over VIP passes at Bhadrachalam temple

BHADRACHALAM: Utharadwara Darshanam at Bhadrachalam has turned controversial with a devotee lodging a complaint over the way officials handled the programme.

Essentially, Vaikuntadwara Darshanam in Bhadrachalam on Thursday had been expected to be a low-key affair, with devotees disallowed from the function in view of increasing Covid cases.

Festive idols arrived at Vaikunta Dwaram at 4:45 a.m. No important persons except Bhadrachalam MLA P. Veeraiah attended the programme. However, apart from additional collector K. Venkateswarlu and police officials, 300 other persons attended the event as VIPs.

Taking affront to this, a devotee Kona Anand Kumar lodged a complaint at the police station alleging violation of Covid-19 guidelines by temple authorities. He said officials had issued most VIP passes to ineligible persons.

“Sanctity of Lord Rama Temple has been lost as a result. Devotees had been kept out unjustly,” Anand Kumar contended. He asserted that he will take up the issue with Lokaykta as well as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court.

Strengthening the devotee’s contention, the Bhadrachalam MLA too said injustices have continued at the famed Lord Rama Temple ever since TRS had come to power.

The Congress MLA said, “Funds are not being released for development of the holy town. Why was entry to general devotees at Bhadrachalam disallowed when all other temples in Khammam and Bhadradri districts permitted all people to have darshan,” Veeraiah asked.

No devotee was allowed in Bhadrachalam even for the Teppostavam.