Pawan Demands Inquiry On Antarvedi Incident

Pawan Kalyan, ally of BJP, has demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident of an ancient chariot of Antarvedi temple which was gutted in fire. Stating that he and Janasena party have no belief in state police, Pawan demanded that the probe into the incident should be handed over to a retired judge.

He stated that if the state government fails to respond to their demand, he said that his party would demand for a CBI investigation in the case. In a video message to the media, Pawan stated that Pithapuram incident, Nellore district’s Konda Bitragunta incident and Antarvedi incidents are not coincidental. He suspected foul play in these incidents. Pawan said that how many such incidents of idols vandalisation and chariots gutting in fire would take place in the state “coincidentally”.

Quashing the reports that Antarvedi’s chariot burning incident as an act of “mentally retarded people” and happened during “honey extraction”, Pawan called those reasons are “lame” and “laughable”. He said that even kids laugh at these reasons and reports.

Expressing concerns that these could be acts of existence of some groups, Pawan hasn’t ruled out the possibility of terrorists. He opined that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) should step in if there is any suspicion about terrorists intervention. Pawan has also urged the heads and priests of other communities to condemn such heinous acts cutting across religious lines.

Earlier, Opposition leader and former CM Chandrababu Naidu too expressed foul play in the incident of fire accident to ancient chariot at Antarvedi temple. Alleging that more than 23 idols of Hindu Gods were destroyed in six temples in Pithapuram in January, Chandrababu said that TDP has taken a serious view of the ongoing attacks on the temples in Andhra Pradesh. Chandrababu alleged that it could be an act of anti-social elements. He demanded a serious probe into the incidents.