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Former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Minister Vellampalli Srinivas on Saturday lashed out at Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu after nine people were killed in a stampede at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam,
"Whether a temple is public or private, ensuring safety and crowd control is the government's responsibility. Can the state abandon devotees just because a temple isn't under its Department?" he told reporters here. He said the temple tragedies under the coalition "echo Chandrababu's past record", reminding that "29 devotees lost their lives in the 2015 Godavari Pushkaram stampede, which was caused by Chandrababu's obsession with publicity and event-shooting," the release said. "This government has no devotion to God, no concern for devotees, only an appetite for publicity," he remarked. "Is intelligence being used only to target YSRCP leaders instead of protecting the public?" he asked. He alleged that the state government's negligence caused the deaths. "Devotees go to temples seeking blessings, not death. These are state-sponsored deaths caused by negligence. If people cannot return safely after darshan, what kind of governance is this?" he asserted, Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. In a post shared on X, President Murmu said, "Shocked to learn about the loss of lives in a tragic incident at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for quick recovery of those injured." Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed condolences and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Several injured devotees were rushed to nearby hospitals, and an inquiry has been ordered into the incident. (ANI)
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