Stop devotional campaigns, focus on people’s issues

Nellore: CPI leader K Narayana said the State government has to respond immediately to disasters like ferry capsizing incident in Vijayawada and take stringent action against those responsible for the incident. He addressed the mediapersons in Gudur on Tuesday and released copies of his two-page letter written to the Chief Minister. He said it is not the responsibility of the government to promote devotional attitude among people.

Narayana opined that more people thronged Godavari Pushkaralu following the hype created by the government. He pointed out that as heavy crowds thronged bathing ghats, 29 people lost their lives during the stampede on the opening day of the Pushkaralu. “When there are particular religious organisations to look after devotional activities why these governments are involving in such activities in a secular state,” he questioned.

He further said, “ In a recent trend, when people are losing their confidence on the political system, people right from the Prime Minister to Chief Ministers are luring people with devotional activities like Chandi Yagam, Gangashuddhi, Homas and others wasting public money.”

He accused the Chief Minister for trying to inculcate the thought of Moksha among people by taking bath in river during Pushkaralu through government advertisement. He flayed the government for wasting public money through the advertisements.

Narayana criticised the government for ignoring engineering tourism which fetches good revenue when people visit projects in the State and he quoted an example of Burj Khalifa in Dubai.