Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila has strongly criticised the state government’s decision to build 5,000 temples in Dalit colonies across the state, alleging that chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was behaving like an RSS man and adopting the Sangh’s ideology.
She demanded that the chief minister withdraw the decision to build separate temples for Dalits and instead focus on their upliftment.
The AP government decided to build the temples in Dalit colonies with funds from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which is in charge of the temple at Tirupati. The decision was apparently made to prevent conversion in Dalit colonies and has been appreciated by his coalition partner, the BJP.
Taking a dig at the chief minister, YS Sharmila said, “Chandrababu Naidu has become like an RSS man.” She accused Naidu of embracing the RSS ideology while claiming that his support for the RSS-backed candidate in the recent vice-presidential election was evidence enough of it.
She said, “Who asked for 5 thousand temples in Dalit colonies? What is the need for building the temples now?” Sharmila asked pointed questions, wondering, “If temples are built in Dalit colonies, who will be the priest there – Brahmins or Dalits?”
She said that while TTD was indeed a sacred institution, the funds were not being used for the upliftment of the Dalits. “If Chandrababu is concerned about Dalits, then focus on their development. In this state, there is only one bathroom for 200 people in the Women’s Welfare hostels,” said Sharmila.