*Srisailam cottage row a political diversion: Buchepalli Siva Prasad Reddy*

Darsi, June 14: Prakasam District YSRCP President and Darsi MLA Buchepalli Siva Prasad Reddy stated that the controversy surrounding the Srisailam temple cottage was a deliberate political diversion created by the coalition government to distract public attention from growing resentment over its two years in power. Releasing a video statement from his residence in Darsi, he clarified that the keys of the cottage constructed by the Buchepalli Subba Reddy–Venkayamma Charitable Trust had always remained with the temple authorities, except for a brief period when the family took possession only for renovation works.

He said his family had visited the cottage only once in the past two years and recalled that even during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and the recent Maha Shivaratri celebrations, the keys remained with the temple administration. Rejecting allegations that his family had misused temple property, he asserted that they had never sought any benefit from temple assets and had instead contributed significantly towards the construction and development of several Hindu temples.
Buchepalli Siva Prasad Reddy accused certain media organisations of falsely claiming that three notices had been served to him regarding the cottage, stating that he had not received even a single notice. He challenged those making the claims to produce evidence and declared that if they proved him wrong, he was prepared to apologise before Lord Mallanna. If they failed, he questioned whether those spreading falsehoods would apologise to his family.
He alleged that the coalition government, cornered by public protests over its governance, had resorted to diversionary politics by exploiting the name of the Srisailam temple. He urged the government to stop using religion for political purposes and reiterated that his family has always upheld and supported Hindu traditions through religious observances, annadanam programmes, and generous donations for temple development. He further stated that if any financial loss caused to the temple by his family was proven, he was prepared to compensate the entire amount.