Location: Seetanagaram
Krishna River bank, Vijayawada
Andhra Pradesh India
On the banks of Krishna River, during
the Holy season of Pushkara, Christian Pastors from the local church resorted
to vandalism on Hinduism. The Christian Pastors encouraged the local and
newly converted Hindus to spit on the photographs of several Hindu gods.
They further stamped on the idols, photographs of Hindu deities and threw
them in Krishna River. The police was a mute spectator for this entire
drama, which took few hours.
As reported by Jagruti, on December
5th 2001, 20 women and 10 men came to Pushkarghat, of Krishna River by
autos. Along with them they brought Hindu idols and photographs, which
were concealed by a cloth. The local vendors initially mistook them for
vendors like them and asked them to show what was in the concealed bags
as they were afraid that they would lose their market to new comers. To
the repeated questioning of the local vendors - P.Govindamma, Anumula Akkamma,
Pothabathuni Venkateshwaramma who insisted on knowing the nature of the
business, the women and men replied saying that they have brought these
items to throw away in the River and are waiting for the pastors. All the
thirty dragged idols which probably weighing around 100 kilograms. After
half an hour Four Pastors joined the thirty and all-together, started stamping,
spitting and breaking the idols. Throwing stones at them forcibly broke
idols that resisted. A pastor by the name Andela Shyam took several photographs
of the entire episode. The locals immediately complained to local police
station that did nothing to prevent. The report reached the Daily Vartha,
which was a Kilometer away. Then a representative from Undavalli Center
of Local Telugu Daily "Vartha" and few others rushed to the spot to check
the vandalism. All the while the 30 just converted and 4 pastors were continuing
the ugly deeds. When protested and were tried to physically stop this vandalism,
the pastors added that "go and complain to anyone you know, non-can stop
us". This commotion attracted attention few more, the people who came to
the spot curiously were shocked to see such blatant display of hatred.
Seeing the increasing number of people who gathered, the 30 members and
4 pastors started running away. People chased them and caught hold of 5
who later were released unquestioned. Police reached the spot only after
entire drama was over and said nothing can be done now.
Few swimmers got down into the river
and brought back few idols that were thrown away. The idols belonged to
Lord Venkateshwara, Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Siva Lingas, Kanaka Durga,
Shiridi Saibaba and so on.
RSS and VHP immediately requested
and reminded Police that inaction by Police was responsible for such actions
even in 1997 in the same location. Under the name of secularism, minority
the rules are being bent to resort to such vandalism by Christian Missionaries
many a time. Hindus often feel helpless as the system is against them and
supports covertly the Christian Missionaries. The Christian missionaries
are coming wherever they please; more specifically they are locating themselves
very close to the Hindu temples and shrines. They harass and rag Hindus
who visit, afraid of such ragging, and lack of protection, the visitors
to these temples and shrines is reducing visibly.
