Political parties slam government over lathi charge on Siva devotees at Srisailam

Political parties on Tuesday found fault with the government over the lathi charge on Siva devotees at the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, alleging complete administrative failure, insensitivity towards devotees and a breakdown of temple management.

Former Minister and YSR Congress Party leader Velampalli Srinivasa Rao said repeated tragedies at temples reflected the government’s utter negligence and disregard for devotees’ lives.

Addressing a press conference at the party office on Tuesday, he recalled a series of incidents during the coalition’s tenure, including the deaths of six devotees during Vaikuntha Ekadashi at Tirumala, seven fatalities in a wall collapse during Simhachalam Chandanotsavam and nine deaths in a stampede at Kasibugga. He termed the lathi charge on Siva devotees at Srisailam during Mahasivaratri as inhumane and demanded strict action against the ASP involved, besides calling for the resignation of Home Minister Anitha on moral grounds.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that ever since the coalition assumed power, security for Hindu devotees had weakened and temple governance had deteriorated. Srisailam, one of the largest pilgrimage centres after Tirumala, attracts lakhs of devotees, many of whom undertake long Deeksha foot journeys. He said reducing the darshan window from 30 to 40 days to just seven days had worsened crowd pressure, while basic amenities such as drinking water, shade, mats and facilities for women, children, the elderly and the differently abled were ignored. He also questioned the silence of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and the Home Minister.

Condemning the incident, BJP State president P. V. N. Madhav said the lathi charge on Deeksha observing devotees carrying irumudulu was unacceptable and reflected a lack of restraint by the authorities. He urged patience and sensitivity in handling pilgrims and called for better coordination between the police and temple management.

Bharata Chaitanya Yuvajana Party national president Bode Ramachandra Yadav termed the incident a shameful blot and accused the government of arrogance. He demanded the immediate suspension of the police personnel involved and an unconditional apology from the Chief Minister and the Endowments Minister, asserting that temples are sacred spaces and not administrative battlegrounds.