AP Deputy CM stopped at Durga temple in Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Budi Muthyalanaidu, who went to Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada for darshan on Wednesday, faced some awkward moments after the temple officials violated the protocol and asked him to go through the queue.

On being denied permission to go inside, the Deputy Chief Minister had to wait for a while before temple Executive Officer Bhramaramba made frantic efforts to make amends. She rushed to the place where Muthyalanaidu was stranded and personally took him inside for darshan.

As if this was not enough, another unsavoury incident that happened on the temple premises on Wednesday lowered the temple's sanctity. A security personnel, identified as Chandra, was found to be discharging his duties under the influence of alcohol. Even as the news of this evoked widespread criticism, the EO expressed anger and immediately sent the security person to a government hospital for medical tests.

The matter was later reported to the district Collector. It was learnt that there were similar allegations in the past against the same security agency that provided guards for the temple duties.

Earlier on Wednesday, a few temple priests felt humiliated after they were stopped by the police at the entrance and denied entry inside.

The Kanaka Durga temple authorities have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the recent past, especially since the Dasara celebrations have begun. It is drawing flak from all quarters for a spate of horrendous lapses, be it for failure in providing proper facilities for devotees or denying VIP entry to valid ticket holders.