Opposition slams KCR's mega ritual for state's well-being

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao takespart in the ritual

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday began the five-day 'Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam,' a mega ritual ostensibly to seek divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of all in the new state even as the opposition mounted a scathing attack on what they termed as religious extravaganza at the tax-payers' cost at a time when Telangana was faced with an agrarian crisis and continued farmers' suicides.
KCR, as the chief minister is known, was accorded a traditional welcome at the sprawling 'yagashala' at his farm house in neighboring Medak district when he arrived at the venue in the morning. Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E S L Narasimhan also took part in the ritual which included 'Gou puja,' 'Maha Mantapa Sthapanam,' 'Chandi yantra lekhanam' among others on the first day. About 2,000 priests from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are taking part in the mega 'yagam.'
Massive arrangements have been made for the 'yagam' in the sprawling premises of KCR's farm house at Erravelli village in neighbouring Medak district. President Pranab Mukherjee would visit the place on December 27. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Bandaru Dattatreya would attend the event on different days. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would attend the 'yagam' on Sunday.
Touted as the biggest ever Yagam performed by any state, the mega ritual estimated to cost over Rs60 million, involves chanting of 700 Vedic hymns non-stop by 1,500 priests to propitiate deity Durga. KCR has claimed that the entire expenditure for the ritual was being borne by him, his family and donations from friends and relatives.
Coming down heavily on the mega event, the opposition BJP disapproved of the "exorbitant splurge of money and misuse of government machinery for a personal event," though it supported performing "yagnas and yagas" for the larger public good. "BJP supports yagnas and yagas for the larger good of the society. We have no issue with his personal events either.
However, the exorbitant splurge of money and misuse of government machinery for a personal event is unacceptable, Telangana BJP spokesman Krishna Sagar Rao said, adding that the BJP demands that the expenditure involved in laying roads to KCR farmhouse, security and logistics should also be borne by the chief minister.
The CPM, in a statement, said the 'yagam' being performed by the chief minister was against the Constitution as it promotes superstition among the people, besides being against the spirit of "secular" Constitution.
"Everybody has individual freedom. But, it should not be forgotten that the chief minister has a constitutional responsibility. The government should not encourage actions which promote caste and communal feelings. It is the responsibility of the government heads to safeguard Constitutional secularism," the Left party said, adding that the
"The chief minister is not confining himself to personal worship. The president, who is the head of the Constitution, and other government leaders are being involved. It is also false for KCR to claim that he is bearing the expenditure himself. Officials of different departments are supervising the work. The expenditure of helicopters and cars...are they being borne by him? People need to know these things," the CPM said.
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