KARIMNAGAR: After discovering that 46 Maisamma Thalli temples had been destroyed during road construction in Godavarikhani, Peddapalli district, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar gave officials a 48-hour deadline. After speaking with Ramagundam municipal commissioner Aruna Sri and district collector Koya Sri Harsha, the minister insisted that the destroyed temples be restored right away. He threatened to remove mosques that were encroaching on the same route if this wasn’t done. He questioned why mosques remained intact while temples were destroyed to make way for wider roads.
Bandi Sanjay expressed his deep anger and charged that the officials were violating Hindu sensitivities. He questioned why the mosques along the same corridor were unaffected after officials clarified that the demolitions were required for road construction. He also questioned whose authority the officials had used to demolish the Maisamma Thalli shrines, which are frequently worshipped by devotees and auto drivers, and accused them of behaving arbitrarily.
The minister issued a severe warning, stating that he had 48 hours to either demolish the mosques blocking the road or rebuild all of the destroyed temples. He threatened to personally visit Godavarikhani following the Jubilee Hills by-election and supervise the mosque demolitions himself if his demand was not fulfilled. Officials, including the Chief Secretary, will be held accountable for any repercussions, he continued. Sanjay Kumar spoke with state and district party leaders to determine the next line of action after speaking with senior authorities.
Bandi questions demolishing 46 Maisamma temples but leaving mosques intact for the construction of new roads
