Vizianagaram scion ignored; YSRCP ministers perform puja at Ramatheertham temple

Vizianagaram, December 22: Tension gripped Bodikonda after ruling party ministers ignored Vizianagaram Royal family scion Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and performed puja, and laid the foundation stone of Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy temple at Ramatheertham.

There was a scuffle between Ashok Gajapathi Raju and the officials when the former objected to the shabby treatment.

"Ramateertham temple was built by my ancestors centuries ago. Hence, I felt that it is my bounden duty as the founder trustee to participate in the puja. But, the officials have ignored me," said Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who is the temple trustee and senior TDP leader.

He also alleged that hundreds of temples were destroyed during the reign of the YSRC government.

The endowments department has sanctioned Rs three crore for the development of the temple.

On Wednesday, YSRC's ministers Botsa Satyanarayana and Vellampalli Srinivas performed the puja and laid the foundation stone for the development of the temple.

It may be recalled that after Lord Rama's idol at the temple was vandalized in January 2020, several Hindu organizations and opposition leaders staged protests across the state.

While BJP and TDP parties have launched a broadside against the YSR government, the ruling YSRC government alleged political conspiracy behind the attacks on temples in the state.

The AP government ordered a CID probe into the desecration and later the government formed a special investigation team (SIT).

The SIT has been investigating the decapitation of Lord Ram's idol, but no headway has been made so far. Probably it is the only and most mysterious case that SIT has taken up in its history.