YSRCP demands immediate removal of Kanaka Durga Temple EO and Chairman over insult to devotees

Tadepalli, Dec 13: Former minister and senior YSRCP leader Velampalli Srinivas has strongly condemned the Executive Officer (EO) and Chairman of the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada for personally untying the Irumudi sacred bundles of Bhavani Deeksha devotees, describing it as a grave desecration and insult to Hindu sentiments. In a video statement released to the media, Srinivas expressed outrage that responsible officials, instead of respecting devotees' faith, interfered with the 40-day Bhavani Deeksha viramana ritual by handling the Irumudi themselves, contrary to tradition where only temple archakas or guru swamis should perform this sacred act. 

He highlighted that devotees travel from distant areas with deep devotion, yet were humiliated on the very first day of the viramana program. Srinivas criticized the officials for acting with arrogance due to their positions, noting that such interference, especially without wearing the Bhavani mala themselves and allowing non-priests to remove rice and coconuts from the Irumudi, violates dharma and has never occurred in the past. He stated this incident is deeply painful and constitutes a desecration in the goddess's temple. Demanding swift action, Srinivas called on the government to immediately suspend the EO and remove the Chairman, while asserting that the YSRCP strongly condemns this act that wounds Hindu devotees' feelings.