Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan today launched an atonement fast in the wake of the alleged Tirumala laddu adulteration.
As part of this, he conducted a cleanliness drive at the Kanakadurga temple on Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada.
He cleaned the stairs to the temple and painted them in yellow and saffron, amidst the chanting of mantras by Vedic scholars.
Speaking after the event, Kalyan lashed out at the comments made by actor Prakash Raj on the laddu adulteration (Prakash Raj had said that Pawan Kalyan as Deputy CM of AP had the authority to handle the issue, and so should not make a hue and cry about it). He asked what the problem of Prakash Raj was when he (Kalyan) spoke about Hindus.
"I talked about impurity in a Hindu temple. What is Prakash Raj's connection with this? Did I blame another religion? Have I spoken anything wrong about Islam and Christianity? There was desecration in Tirupati. How can it be wrong to say that this should not happen? Shouldn't you talk if something goes wrong? I have respect for Prakash Raj. Should I not speak when there is impurity to the dharma I follow?" Kalyan asked.
He alleged that some people were speaking at will on Sanatana Dharma. "Can you speak on Islam? Can you talk about Jesus?" he asked.
Prakash Raj had earlier taken to X to express his views on the laddu controversy. He also mentioned Pawan Kalyan in it. "This is an incident that happened in a State where you are the deputy chief minister. Investigate and take action against the culprits. Why are you creating unnecessary fears and making it discussed at the national level? The existing religious tensions in our country are enough. Thank you to your friends at the Centre (sic)," Prakash Raj had said.
Actor and MAA president Manchu Vishnu also reacted sharply to Prakash Raj's post.