Bharatiya Janata Party Dharmika Cell convener Phanindra squarely blamed the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department for the recent tragedy at the Simhachalam temple, where a wall collapse led to the death of seven devotees.
Calling it a direct result of gross negligence, Phanindra asserted that the incident was not merely an accident but a clear case of institutional failure. He held the Endowments Department entirely responsible for the loss of lives.
He remarked that the department's functioning has deeply disturbed both devotees and the general public. In his view, the tragedy amounts to nothing less than murder caused by administrative apathy.
Drawing comparisons, Phanindra questioned why no arrests had been made in this case, even though actor Allu Arjun was once indirectly blamed in a separate incident that resulted in a fatality.
He also noted that the Simhachalam tragedy came closely on the heels of the Tirupati stampede, raising serious concerns about temple safety under the current administration.
Phanindra demanded a complete overhaul of the Endowments Department. He further alleged that the three-member committee appointed to investigate the incident was merely a token gesture and lacked seriousness.
Additionally, he expressed dismay that, according to Vaishnava tradition, no purification rituals (Samprokshana) had been performed at the temple following the tragedy, and the sanctity of the premises had not been properly restored.
