Yadadri Funds: Congress and BRS Engage in Dispute
The recently disclosed earnings of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple atop Yadadri have ignited a fierce political debate between major parties as the Lok Sabha elections draw near.
The BRS attributes the temple’s soaring income, which reached Rs 225 crore in fiscal 2023-24, to the extensive renovation spearheaded by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. The party asserts that the temple’s enhanced grandeur under his administration has attracted devotees globally, resulting in a substantial increase in hundi collections and overall earnings.
However, the Congress swiftly countered these claims, attributing the surge in pilgrim numbers to their initiative of providing free bus travel for women. Launched by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy within days of the Congress assuming power, the scheme has reportedly led to a notable rise in visitors not only to Yadadri but also to other major temples across the region.
The BJP, however, disapproves of both parties’ attempts to politicize the temple’s affairs, emphasizing the importance of keeping religion separate from politics and urging against using the temple as a political tool.
Yadadri Funds: Congress and BRS Engage in Dispute
The renovated Yadadri temple, inaugurated on March 28, 2022, during Chandrashekar Rao’s tenure, has shown a significant increase in revenue. Figures released by Yadadri temple CEO A. Bhaskar Rao indicate earnings of Rs 169 crore in the first fiscal year after renovation (April 2022-March 2023), which grew to Rs 225 crore in the subsequent fiscal year (2023-24), ending on March 31.
Amidst the debate, BRS leader Manne Krishank’s social media post praising KCR’s efforts triggered heated reactions. The Congress refuted BRS’s claims, asserting that their women-centric “Mahalakhsmi” scheme significantly contributed to the temple’s increased earnings.
Sama Rammohan Reddy, TPCC’s chairman of media and communications, questioned why the temple’s earnings during the BRS regime in 2022-23 were not comparable to those under Congress’s governance if the renovation indeed attracted more pilgrims.
State BJP vice-president N.V.S.S. Prabhakar criticized both parties for politicizing religious matters, urging them to refrain from exploiting temples for political gain and emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sanctity of faith and devotion.
As political tensions escalate, the dispute over Yadadri’s funds underscores the delicate balance between faith, politics, and governance.