Chinna Jeeyar Swamy to start yatra from Jan. 17 seeking protection of temples in AP
VIJAYAWADA: Seer Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy will undertake a yatra from January 17 to temples that were vandalised in the recent past and seek protection for Hindu religious places. He demanded that those who vandalised the temples recently are given severe punishment and sought a committee of intelligence department officials to conduct a transparent inquiry.
Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, the seer lamented that attacks on temples were continuing and said over 50 temples were attacked in the recent past. He recalled that in a temple in Singarayakonda, the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy idol was damaged and asked authorities to ensure that there will be no such attacks in the coming days.
Chinna Jeeyar Swamy said that he will meet local leaders to finalise future plan of action. He will hold talks with the village elders, Hindu religious leaders and temple associates. He lamented that CCTVs were not being set up in all temples despite orders . He said that security flaws were exposed at temples in the recent attacks and urged the government to provide a strong security system.
The seer said he cannot be silent when there is a threat to the very existence of temples. He further said that if churches or mosques were attacked, there would be a worldwide retaliation and deplored the lukewarm reaction to temple attacks. He objected to political parties involving themselves in religious matters.
He said he had nothing to do with politics and does not want to blame anyone and the government and society must respond.
Meanwhile, the Bala Vikas Foundation for Peace and Harmony appealed to the Chief Minister to form peace committees in every district to prevent any retaliation to attacks on temples.
Chairman of the foundation Narava Prakasa Rao said it was heartbreaking to note so many idols being damaged in different parts of AP and held the government responsibile to prevent such incidents. He noted that peace committees were constituted in Hyderabad during Ganesha puja celebrations and produced good results.
