Temple demolition: BJP MLC denies charge

Bellary, Sep 7 (UNI) Suspended BJP member G Janardhana Reddy, MLC, today refuted charges that he was behind the recent demolition of the Sugulamma temple located in a mining area, bordering Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Reddy, who created controversy after he levelled the Rs 150 crore bribery allegation against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, said ''I own only 60 acres of mining lease land in the place and there is no need for me to demolish the temple. Some of my adversaries are trying to pull my name in this issue only to malign my political and business career''.

Earlier, Mr Janardhana Reddy, who took reporters to the temple site, about 30 km from here to prove his innocence, entered into verbal duel over the temple's history with Telugu Desam Party legislator Govindareddy of Rayadurg assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh, who also came to the spot with his supporters. However, police intervened and pacified the two leaders.

Mr Govindareddy said he would bring pressure on the Andhra Pradesh government to rebuild the temple at the same spot as the presiding deity was worshipped by people from both Bellary and Anantapur district.

The temple was demolished on Saturday last and the very next day people from surrounding villages of Bellary taluk had filed a case against Mr Janardhana Reddy and Mr Ramachandra Reddy holding them responsible for the incident.

However, temple priest V Reddy Nayak lodged a counter complaint on Tuesday against M P Ravinder, son of Karnataka Home Minister M P Prakash, Kurugodu legislator N Suryanarayana Reddy and mine owner S K Modi alleging they were behind the demolition.

He said the temple was located near BIOP, one of the three mining lands owned by Modi and claimed that he in connivance with Mr Suryanarayana Reddy and Mr Ravindra had been trying to excavate ore in the temple land, rich in iron ore deposits.

According to sources, an estimated five lakh tonnes of 64 grade iron ore was available in the area and the temple was proving to be one of the major obstacles in taking up excavation.

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