In pursuance of their long-pending demands, members of the Telangana Archaka Udyoga Sangham went on an indefinite strike starting Tuesday.
As a result, there were no pujas and archanas to the presiding deities in some 650 temples all over Telangana. Arjitha sevas in many temples, barring the Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam and a few other major temples, were also affected.
Several priests staged a dharna at the Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple at Chikkadpally. Archakas and other employees of various temples in the city also took out a rally from the Kalvavoddu Anjaneya Swamy temple to the Jalanjaneya Swamy temple to mark their protest against the state government's failure to fulfil its promises to them earlier. The rally culminated in a meeting at the Jalanjaneya Swamy temple where the agitators vowed to continue their stir till the government conceded all demands.
The agitators' demands include payment of salaries through the state treasury on par with the office staff of the Endowments Department.
Khammam MLA P Ajay Kumar and other Congress leaders extended their support to the archakas' indefinite strike.