PNS|Amalapuram
Dismissing allegations made by Jana Sena Party chief K Pawan Kalyan on the auctioning of priests in Annavaram temple, Minister for Endowments Kottu Satyanarayana has said that he has no right to talk about Hindu dharma and Hindu temples.
Talking to the media in Draksharamam on Saturday, along with Civil Supplies and BC Welfare minister Ch Venugopal Kishna, the Endowments Minister clarified that in order to streamline the process some changes were made in the famous hill shrine Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy temple.
The Endowments Minister stated that as part of curbing the mediators in Annavaram temple, some decisions were taken bringing about changes. He said that in a bid to ensure that Kalyanam in Annavaram temple would not become expensive, some reforms were brought in the system.
In an effort to check the mediator system, a senior officer was appointed as EO to the Annavaram temple. Transparency is being followed in maintaining the quality of prasadam and providing facilities to the devotees.
The Minister cited that a fake priest wearing Yagnopavitam came to Annavaram temple from Rajahmundry. The officials identified him and prevented him from entering the temple. It was found that he went to the Annavaram temple since a mediator system existed there.
“In the backdrop of the incidents, the Endowments department has taken stringent steps to curb them. The fake priest met Pawan Kalyan and complained about the auctioning of priests. Based on the fake priest’s version, Pawan Kalyan indulged in mudslinging against the steps taken to curb fake priests in Annavaram temple,” the Minister said.
The government has taken many steps to provide more facilities to the devotees in all temples and he made it clear. Pawan Kalyan supported the mediators and fake priests, the minister criticised, slamming that he read the script written by TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu but the people of the state would not trust them, he claimed.
Recalling the demolition of temples during the TDP regime, Kottu Satyanarayana asked Pawan Kalyan whether he questioned Naidu when Hindu temples were demolished. The minister depicted Pawan Kalyan as insane stating that he has no consistency in politics. “Pawan Kalyan is working like a hired leader to Chandrababu Naidu. He reads the script given by the TDP. People will not trust what Pawan Kalyan is saying.
Speaking on the occasion, BC Welfare Minister Ch Vengopal Krishna recalled that the government had taken a decision that no retirement was required to temple priests. Pawan Kalyan is making baseless and meaningless allegations against the government.