BJP leader and Dubbaka MLA M Raghunandan Rao today demanded that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao develop the Komuravelli Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, also known as the Komrelly Mallanna temple, that is located in Siddipet's Komuravelli, in a holistic fashion.
Speaking to the media after offering prayers at the temple along with his family, he alleged that the CM had forgotten to work towards developing the temple even though it was located in the latter's native place.
"The Komrelly Mallanna temple is a famed spiritual destination that attracts many devotees each year. The state government should realise this, and should work to transform Komuravelli into a temple city. This will be beneficial to many locals as well as to the visitors coming to the temple," the MLA said.
He demanded that the state government sanction funds to the temple to develop it in the way it was
developing the Yadadri temple, and that it also appoint an officer from the deputy commissioner cadre as the Executive Officer of the temple to oversee its management.
The development and protection of temples has become a burning issue in both the Telugu-speaking states. Recently, the desecration of an idol of Lord Rama kept in the Ramateertham temple in Vizianagaram district's Nellimarla, in Andhra Pradesh, led to a huge outpouring of criticism against the YSR Congress Party regime, and much kerfuffle amongst the parties of the state.