Temple vandalism: BJP delegation meets Telangana Governor, urges to order inquiry

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 21 (ANI): A delegation of BJP leaders, MPs, and MLAs met Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Monday in connection with the recent alleged incidents of temple vandalism across the state and urged him to order an inquiry in this regard.
Speaking to ANI after the meeting, MP BJP MP Eatala Rajender said that the delegation has demanded an inquiry in the matter and also suggested an NIA probe "if the state is not capable."

"We met the Governor and discussed the attacks on 6-7 temples in the state. We had no information on the action taken by the government or the intention behind the attacks. We asked the Governor to order an enquiry into it. If the state is not capable, I urge the Governor to order NIA to take over the probe," he said.
BJP delegation led by BJP LP Leader and MLA Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, MPs Raghunandan Rao Madhavaneni, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, MLAs Paidi Rakesh Reddy, Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy, Harish Palvai, Former MLAs Nvssprabhakar, Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, and BJP State General Secretary Gujjula Premendar Reddy among other senior leaders were present.
Two separate incidents involving the vandalization of Hindu idols were reported in Hyderabad earlier this month, sparking protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several religious organisations.
Earlier on October 11, Hyderabad police arrested an individual for allegedly vandalising the idol of goddess Durga installed at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds in Hyderabad. The idol was part of the annual Devi Sharannavaratri celebrations, organised every year by the Exhibition Society and its staff.
According to the police, the act was not "deliberate" and the person booked for the same was a "vagabond." However, the incident stirred a row and the opposition have demanded a detailed investigation.
On October 14, the vandalism of the Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad's Mandal division triggered widespread protests. The locals caught an individual identified as Salman Salim Thakur from the spot and handed over to the police. On October 19, the temple premises witnessed dramatic events as police Telangana police lathi-charges protesters there.
The BJP have demanded an NIA investigation into the alleged vandalism at Muthayalamma temple and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Telangana government to suspend personnel who lathi-charged the protestors.
Speaking to ANI, VHP spokesperson Bala Swamy alleged that the temple vandal is a terrorist and slammed the state government for not taking any steps in this regard.
"The person of vandalised the idol is a terrorist. Telangana police are not taking any steps to arrest those responsible for the incident," he said. (ANI)