Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Minister pulls up Durga temple staff

Staff Reporter

Unsatisfactory replies to general queries irk J.C. Diwakar Reddy

VIJAYAWADA: Staff and officials of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri have incurred the wrath of Panchayat Raj Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy.

Mr. Reddy visited the temple for the first time on Sunday after taking over as in-charge Minister for Endowments. He was welcomed with traditional temple honours.

After offering puja, he sought to know details of the temple affairs and expressed anger when he failed to get a satisfactory reply to his general queries on issues like the temple revenue, staff and security.

His straight question on the approximate income earned by the temple drew different responses from the baffled staff.

"You are confused and are now trying to confuse me also," a visibly annoyed Minister remarked.

When repeated attempts to get a clear picture of the temple affairs failed, the Minister put his hands together in disgust (a gesture conveying his annoyance) and hurriedly left the place with a sarcastic "namaskaram ayiah."

Replying to queries by the mediapersons outside the temple, Mr. Reddy said: "The Government has tightened the strings on the Endowments Department. Let us wait for more details to emerge."

Chairman of the Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority Malladi Vishnu, president of the City Congress Committee, yla Sominaidu, zonal chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, Vijayawada, Jogi Ramesh and others were also present.

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