Andhra Pradesh BJP netas oppose CM Jagan's 'minority appeasement' via church constructions

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Andhra Pradesh unit president Somu Veerraju on Saturday said the party respected all religions equally and claimed that it was against CM Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government's policy to built churches in the state with public money and not Christians.

"The party respects other religions like it respects Hinduism. Hinduism is a way of life, but not a religion confined to a single preacher or single sacred book. Christians and Muslims in India adopt and follow some Hindu customs, as it is an Indian way of life. Indian culture allows other religions to coexist. BJP respects other religions too," Veerraju said while addressing a press conference.

Opposing the Andhra Pradesh government's move to built churches in the state, he said, "Such opposition is not against the Christians but against the government policy of misusing funds from Hindus. Funds from Hindus should be used for Hindu temples only."

Veerraju suggested, "If the government wants to construct churches, that should not be done with money from public exchequer, but from donations of Christians and their churches only."

AP government indulging in appeasement politics, says BJP leader

Last month, BJP leader Lanka Dinakar alleged that the Andhra government is indulging in appeasement politics by using taxpayers money to build churches in the state to gain minority votes.

Speaking to ANI, Dinakar said, "We are against the attitude of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy led Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government in Andhra Pradesh pertaining to the appeasement of a certain section of minorities unconstitutionally since Reddy became the Chief Minister of the state."

"Funds of taxpayer's are being used for religious appeasement of minorities for their vote bank politics. We never accept such kind of appeasement politics," he added.

Dinakar alleged that there has been massive conversions, grant in aid to built churches from the state government's exchequer.

"Recently, Rs 12 lakhs administrative sanction was released for the construction of Church at K Appaya Palle of Kadapa district which is the native district of the Chief Minister. Salaries have been given to Pastors and Maulanas (Muslim heads) are being sourced from the government. Funds have been provided for religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem by the government from taxpayer's money. We have clearly observed that Hindu temples are appearing as the revenue generation sources for the state government," he said.

(With ANI Inputs)