KCR skips Sri Rama Navami celebrations at Bhadrachalam temple

​Bhadrachalam: Has Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao once again let down the hopes of people in Bhadrachalam? The denizens say ‘yes’, referring to the absence of KCR at the kalyanam (celestial wedding) of Sri Sita Ramchandra Swamy for the second successive year.

There was no clarity even to the administration whether KCR would make it to the ritual of carrying pattu vastralu (silk robes) to the divine couple, a ritual that has been in vogue since the times of Tana Shah of Qutb Shahi dynasty.

In fact, since he took over the reins of Telangana, KCR had visited twice – 2015 and 2016. During his first visit, he said that he would come back to Bhadrachalam in a week and announce measures to develop the temple.

But he didn’t return. The following year, addressing a press conference, he promised Rs 100 crore and vowed to develop the temple after discussing modalities with China Jeeyar Swamy. Thereafter in 2017, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy and architect Anand Sai visited the temple. It was then said that a plan will be prepared, and it will be sent to KCR. There was a lull until recently Minister for Roads and Buildings Tummala Nageswara Rao revealed that three plans were readied and are awaiting CM’s nod.

Against this backdrop, the government, in its recent budget (2018-19), earmarked Rs 100 crore for Bhadradri temple development plan. With this development coming close on the heels of Sri Rama Navami, a speculation was in the air that KCR, who is supposed to attend the celestial wedding of Lord Rama, will lay foundation stone for the temple developmental works. But his absence on Monday dashed the hopes of the denizens. Now they doubt over the commitment of the CM over Bhadradri development.

Speaking to The Hans India, Congress Legislature Party Deputy Leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy said: “The Chief Minister would have been here today, but he chose to skip disappointing the people of Bhadrachalam.

Although he earmarked Rs 100 crore for temple development, neither he released a single rupee nor come up with a concrete plan.”

It’s unfortunate that being an MLC, I have to purchase Rs 5,000 ticket to witness the kalyanam, he said, wondering was it Bangaru Telangana KCR has been promising. Tallapudi Ramu, a businessman, said that KCR, who is keen to develop Yadadri by spending crores of rupees, has no interest whatsoever on Bhadradri. KCR is trying to hoodwink the denizens of Bhadrachalam with false promises, he added.

It may be noted here that in the absence of the CM, Minister for Endowments A Indrakaran Reddy presented pattu vastralu and mutyala talambralu to the Lord’s wedding on behalf of State government.