VIJAYAWADA: Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Samithi (HDPS) staged a protest here on Friday urging the State government to construct five of the 46 temples that were demolished in and around Vijayawada for Krishna Pushkralu.
VHP leaders alleged that though State government had set up a five-men committee last year for rebuilding the temples, nothing has happened till date. They warned to take the issue to the notice of BJP national president Amit Shah who is scheduled to visit the city on August 28 if no action is taken for the reconstruction of the dismantled temples by then.
According to VHP members, the demolished temples include the oldest Seethamma Vari Padalu, Rahu-Ketu temple, Vinayaka temple on the river belt of Krishna, Sai Baba temple, Swayambhu Ammavari temple at Bhavanipuram, Krishna temple, Bavaji matham. Saiva Kshetram Peetadhipathi Sri Siva Swamy sought to know why the government had targeted only Hindu temples in the name of executing development works for Krishna Pushkaralu.
“It is unfortunate that the government is doing injustice to the Hindus and hurting their sentiments in the name of secularism,” he said.
“The government should issue an order regarding the construction of the demolished temples by August 15 or else we will organise a Maha dharna on August 18,” said VHP city vice-president Durga Prasad Raju.