Tadepalli, November 1: Former Minister Vellampalli Srinivas strongly condemned the tragic Kashinbugga stampede incident, calling it a complete failure of the coalition government and holding Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his administration squarely responsible for the deaths of nine innocent devotees. Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office, he said the government is shamelessly trying to escape responsibility by claiming that the temple is privately run, questioning whether the duty to protect citizens disappears simply because a temple is private. “Whether a temple is public or private, ensuring safety and crowd control is the government's responsibility. Can the state abandon devotees just because a temple isn't under its Department?” he asked, terming the statements of CM Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and ministers as highly irresponsible and insensitive.
Vellampalli cited repeated lapses in temple safety and Hindu religious sanctity since the coalition took power, recalling unprecedented tragedies at sacred institutions: six devotees dying at Tirumala during Mukkoti Ekadashi and seven in a wall-collapse at Simhachalam. He also pointed to the demolition of the Kashi Nayyana shrine, calling it a deliberate insult to Hindu sentiment. He said the temple tragedies under the coalition echo Chandrababu’s past record, reminding that 29 devotees lost their lives in the 2015 Godavari Pushkaram stampede, which was caused by Chandrababu’s obsession with publicity and event-shooting. “This government has no devotion to God, no concern for devotees, only an appetite for publicity,” he remarked.
Calling Chandrababu anti-Hindu, Vellampalli cited the demolition of over 40 temples in Vijayawada during Naidu’s previous regime and the shameful act of transporting idols in garbage trucks. Chandrababu, despite calling Lord Venkateswara his family deity, performed rituals wearing shoes while removing them only before businessmen like Ramoji Rao. Vellampalli slammed Home Minister Anitha for claiming “no government role”, questioning how police intelligence could fail to anticipate massive crowds during Karthika Masam, especially on an Ekadashi weekend when 5,000–10,000 devotees visit daily. “Is intelligence being used only to target YSRCP leaders instead of protecting the public?” he asked.
He demanded the government accept responsibility, provide justice and compensation to victims, and ensure strict protection measures at all temples. “Devotees go to temples seeking blessings, not death. These are state-sponsored deaths caused by negligence. If people cannot return safely after darshan, what kind of governance is this?” he asserted, demanding accountability and immediate corrective action from the coalition government.
YSRCP condemns heinous attack on Hindupur Party office
