Paripoornanda Lashes Out At AP Minister Kodali Nani

The Hindu seer Paripoornananda today came down heavily against Andhra Pradesh minister Kodali Nani for making serious comments against Hindu deities and the Tirumala temple.

Responding to allegations that temples were being attacked and idols broken in AP, Nani had reportedly said that it did not matter since the idols and artifacts were being repaired, and that a chariot was just a piece of wood, and an idol of Lord Hanuman just a toy.

He had also said that there was no reason for CM Y S Jaganmohan Reddy (who is a Christian) to sign the mandatory declaration at the Tirumala temple that he believed in the presiding deity Lord Venkateswara, as Chandrababu Naidu had demanded. He added that that rule must be removed.

The comments have created a furore, and many BJP and Hindu leaders have started protests.

Speaking on the same issues, Paripoornananda asked the minister to not cross his limits, and said that those who made derogatory comments against the deity would be destroyed.

In what appears to be an apparent reference to Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, he said that the whole world saw how some ex-CMs who had not signed the declaration when visiting the temple had died. He also pointed out that Indira Gandhi, who had also not signed the declaration, had died a horrendous death.

He said that Jagan had won due to an overwhelming number of Hindus voting for him, and said that unless the CM condemned the comments, it would appear like he was behind them and supported them.

The seer and BJP leader also asserted that all the non-Hindus who visited the Tirumala temple should sign the declaration, including the CM. He said that as a minister Nani's job was to douse any controversies and not instigate them.