Kuda Land Auction Row Takes Political Turn with BJP Ritual at Bhadrakali Temple

-Warangal: The debate over the recent auction of Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (Kuda) lands took a political turn on Saturday when the BJP organized a ‘Samproshanam’ ritual at the Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal.

The party alleged that the political activities of Congress and BRS leaders in the temple were hurting the sentiments of devotees. The trouble started after BRS leaders, including former Kuda chief Marri Yadav Reddy, alleged irregularities in the land auction. After the ritual bath, Yadav Reddy tried to visit the temple and take oath before the deity over the allegations, but was stopped by the police near the building and detained.

Congress leaders denied the allegations, stating that the auction process was conducted in a transparent manner. DCC president and Kuda president Inagala Venkat Ram Reddy also visited the temple and offered prayers and reiterated that there was no irregularity.

Accusing both parties of using the temple for political purposes, BJP leaders conducted the ceremony under the party’s Warangal district unit. They said such actions affected the sanctity of the temple. BJP Warangal district president Ganta Ravi Kumar said temples, especially the Bhadrakali temple, which attracts devotees from across the country and abroad, should not be used for political clashes. As part of the programme, BJP leaders sprinkled turmeric juice and water brought from Ganga and Godavari rivers around the temple premises as part of the ritual.

He demanded the leaders of the BJP, Congress and BRS to apologize to religious people for taking political debates into religious arenas. The party also criticized both the previous BRS government and the current Congress administration for alleged lack of development in Warangal. In a related development, BJP leader Rao Padma was placed under house arrest by the police ahead of the programme.