The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A.P. drops move to keep panchaloha idols ‘safe’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A.P. drops move to keep panchaloha idols ‘safe’

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: A proposal by the Endowments Department to keep ancient panchaloha idols in temples, other than those installed in the sanctum sanctorums, in strong rooms to prevent thefts, was hastily dropped at the intervention of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday.

The proposal sparked protests by the BJP and its frontal organisations who alleged that it hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus. Keeping idols in strong-rooms or lockers amounted to confining the gods in jails instead of worshipping them, the claimed.

Endowments Commissioner P. Sundar Kumar clarified there was no proposal to disturb either the statue of the presiding deity (“moola virat”) or the smaller replicas (utsav vigrahas) taken out in processions during festivals. The move was only aimed at protecting the ancient panchaloha idols and jewellery from thefts by keeping them in the custody of the deputy commissioner of the area concerned. “Even this proposal has now been dropped on the Chief Minister’s instructions,” he said. Earlier, BJP followers, led by N. V. S. S Prabhakar, state secretary, staged demonstration at the Endowments headquarters on Tilak Road here. Mr. Prabhakar entered the chamber of Mr. Sundar Kumar and fiercely argued with the Commissioner, who explained that it was only a notice circulated to assistant commissioners to furnish details about the loose ancient Panchaloha vigrahas for their proper custody.

The cause of the furore was a note issued on April 15 by C. V. S. Rama Murthy, chief engineer, Endowments, calling assistant commissioners for a meeting in Hyderabad and to bring details of such idols. He proposed to construct strong-rooms for safe custody of the idols. These could be withdrawn during festivals along with utsav vigrahas.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh