Overnight closure of Vemulawada Rajanna temple is anti-Hindu: BJP

Without any prior public notice, iron barricades were erected at the main entrance, barring thousands of devotees from offering prayers directly to the deity. Only temple priests are permitted entry to conduct essential Pujas, leaving the sprawling premises eerily deserted. As a stopgap, LED screens have been installed outside for virtual darshan, while ancillary rituals like Kode Mokku and Arjita Sevas are redirected to the adjacent Bhimeswara Temple 

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The Bharatiya Janata Party has unleashed scathing criticism against the state government's "arbitrary and insensitive" decision to impose heavy police bandobast overnight and seal the iconic Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple (Rajanna Temple) in Vemulawada, effectively suspending direct darshan for devotees. District BJP Ex president Pratap Ramakrishna, flanked by senior party functionaries, questioned the administration's motives, rhetorically asking, "Are Hindus being treated as terrorists or extremists that police must cordon off a sacred Hindu shrine under the cover of darkness? This is a blatant assault on the faith of millions who revere Lord Rajanna as Dakshina Kashi."

The BJP cadre's outrage stems from the temple's abrupt closure on Monday coinciding with the auspicious Karthika Masam, a period of heightened pilgrimage. Without any prior public notice, iron barricades were erected at the main entrance, barring thousands of devotees from offering prayers directly to the deity. Only temple priests are permitted entry to conduct essential Pujas, leaving the sprawling premises eerily deserted. As a stopgap, LED screens have been installed outside for virtual darshan, while ancillary rituals like Kode Mokku and Arjita Sevas are redirected to the adjacent Bhimeswara Temple. However, this has failed to assuage the hurt sentiments of pilgrims, many of whom traveled long distances only to return empty-handed.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar lambasted the Endowments Department accusing it of "mishandling devotees' emotions" by shifting core services to the Bhimanna Temple without consultation. "Development is welcome, but not at the cost of snatching darshan from the faithful. Temples like Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya Ram Mandir underwent massive reconstructions without halting worship—why can't Vemulawada follow suit?" Sanjay warned, vowing party intervention to reopen the shrine if needed. BJP workers echoed this fury through widespread protests across Rajanna Sircilla district, burning effigies of the state government and chanting slogans against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's "anti-Hindu policies."

The controversy arises from ongoing expansion works, initiated over the past month, which include demolishing the southern and northern prakaram, naivedya hall, and EO office to accommodate growing devotee footfall—especially ahead of the biennial Sammakka Saralamma Jatara. While the BJP unequivocally supports the temple's modernization to enhance facilities, leaders expressed dismay over the opacity surrounding these projects. "Neither temple officials nor elected representatives have provided clarity on timelines or impacts. Devotees deserve full transparency on internal expansions," Gopi demanded, urging authorities to disseminate updates proactively.

Further escalating tensions, the BJP issued a stern warning: "The dargah within the temple complex must be relocated first before any construction encroaches on deity idols or sacred spaces." This demand for clarity on the dargah and adjacent Kotilingala structures underscores the party's broader call for sensitivity toward Hindu sentiments during renovations. They emphasized that prolonged closure would devastate ancillary livelihoods— from flower vendors to priests—pushing countless families onto the streets indirectly.

The BJP submitted a formal representation to the EO, insisting on immediate resumption of unrestricted darshan, preservation of key rituals like Abhishekam and Nitya Kalyanam at the main shrine, and zero disruptions for Sammakka Jatara pilgrims. "We are not against progress; we are against progress that wounds the soul of our dharma," the BJP leaders stressed, hinting at escalated agitations if demands go unheeded.