Bandi Sanjay Slams State Funding for Lal Darwaza Bonalu During Charminar Visit

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticized the Telangana state government and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday while offering prayers during Bonalu celebrations at the Lal Darwaza Simhavahini Mahankali temple and visiting the Bhagyalakshmi temple at Charminar in the Old City.

Sanjay carried a bonam over his head and offered it to Goddess Mahankali at Lal Darwaza as part of the annual festivities. Speaking at the venue, the BJP leader took a dig at Rama Rao's recent visit to the Bhagyalakshmi temple, saying the deity appeared to have brought wisdom to the BRS working president. He noted that Rama Rao had previously ridiculed Sanjay’s own visit to the temple during the GHMC elections.

Highlighting the turnout at the festival, Sanjay criticized the government over its financial allocation for the Lal Darwaza temple. He alleged that the state government provided only Rs 5.5 lakh for Bonalu celebrations at the shrine, questioning how such a small amount could be sufficient for an event that attracts more than one lakh devotees.

Sanjay further claimed there was disparity in state funding, alleging that the government earmarked Rs 33 crore for Ramzan-related programmes while allocating only Rs 20 crore for Bonalu celebrations, even though Hindus constitute more than 80 per cent of the state's population.

Accusing former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and the earlier BRS government of deceiving the Hindu community, Sanjay alleged that a previous promise of Rs 20 crore for the development of the Lal Darwaza Ujjaini Mahankali temple was never fulfilled. He stated that Hindu residents in the Old City regularly pay taxes and demanded that funds be released for developing local temples.

The Union minister pledged that if the BJP comes to power, it will organise Bonalu celebrations in the Old City on a grand scale and provide comprehensive infrastructure and facilities for devotees. He also called upon youth to protect Sanatana Dharma and promised that the Bhagyalakshmi temple would be developed on the lines of a Golden Temple.

Sanjay was accompanied during his visits to the Bhagyalakshmi Mandir at Charminar and other shrines across the Old City by BJP MLA Rakesh Reddy and senior party leader Manohar Reddy.