Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh unit of BJP has undertaken a signature campaign at all major temples of the state during last three days, demanding that people of other religions should not be appointed as members or employees of trusts that manage Hindu temples in the state, including the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board.
The signature campaign, taken up based on the call of AP BJP chief D. Purandeswari, has also demanded removal of TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy from the trust board for his involvement in financial irregularities.
The three-day signature campaign, in which BJP leaders and activists participated at all major temples of the state, concluded on Wednesday.
Mild tension prevailed at Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada when police personnel asked BJP supporters whether they had taken permission from the temple authorities to take up a signature campaign near the Gosala. Police asked them to otherwise wind up their campaign.
BJP supporters informed police that they have taken up a state-wide programme only to bring about awareness among devotees. They are taking signatures of devotees as a mark of their solidarity with the campaign. Subsequently, police withdrew from the scene. A good number of devotees visiting the Durga temple appended their signatures backing the campaign.
AP BJP spokesperson Sadineni Yamini Sharma said they took up the signature campaign at Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Mangalagiri. A good number of devotees who signed expressed their anguish over how YSR Congress government can appoint persons of other religions as well as those involved in financial irregularities on trusts of Hindu temples, including the TTD trust board.
BJP actively took up the signature campaign in several parts of the state at all major temples, including at Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada.
