Hyderabad, Sep 6 (PTI) Images of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and some flagship programmes of his government and a car are being carved on pillars for the Yadadri temple complex, a move that has drawn fire from political parties.

However, G Kishan Rao, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority, said the Chief Minister had never insisted or ordered that his images be put there and it was the prerogative of the Stapati temple architect or sculptor) to carve images of his choice.

The temple at Yadagirigutta - the abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha - and its surrounding areas are being renovated and developed by the state government.

It's not clear as to where or on what portion of the temple these carved pillars would be used. But this move of the government has drawn flak from political parties and their leaders after the issue was highlighted in the local media.

Rao said the pillars which are under preparation are meant for the external part of the temple, not for the internal portion.

"If you see temples in India, they depict contemporary history to convey it to future generations. Similarly, the sculptor also engraved some of the flagship programmes of the current times like KCR kits...if keeping the images is objectionable, we can modify them. We don't mind to even remove if it is objectionable having CMs picture," he said.

Senior Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said there should not any political activity or depiction of leaders at religious places.

"Is this democracy or monarchy? It is a place of worship which people of all political interests visit. There should not be any scope for political activity. I request you to stop all these activities," Vikramarka said in a press conference here on Friday.

Seeking apologies from the government, BJP legislator Raja Singh, in a video message, demanded that the pictures should not be used on temples. "I ask the Chief Minister whether this is in his knowledge. If you know it, then stop it immediately. Otherwise take action against those responsible for it. The temple is not being constructed with your partys (TRS) funds or from your pocket money. It is public money that is being spent there. You should apologise to the people," he said. "If you (KCR) want to engrave figures of political parties, then ensure that all the parties get space," he added.

Chief spokesperson of the state BJP K Krishna Saagar Rao, in a statement, said, "With unprecedented greed for political legacy, KCR has desecrated Yadadri."

"Etching his own image, other political leaders' images, party symbols, government schemes on Hindu temple pillars is an unforgiveable act. It amounts to 'desecrating' a Hindu temple. The Yadadri temple episode exposes KCR's cheap antics for political outcome," he said.

A senior official involved in the temple project said engraving rulers pictures on temples and parts of temples was not uncommon in history.

He pointed out that here were pictures of Krishnadevaraya, king of the Vijayanagar empire, at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)