Hyderabad – Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticized the Congress-led Telangana government for not giving enough attention to the Saraswati Pushkaram festival. He claimed that the government spent more energy organizing beauty pageants than supporting a major religious event.
On Monday, Bandi Sanjay questioned why only ₹35 crore was set aside for the Kaleshwaram Saraswati Pushkaram. He said this small amount is not enough to manage such a large spiritual gathering.
He compared it to the Kumbh Mela, where the BJP-led central government made arrangements for 50 crore devotees. In contrast, he said the Telangana government struggled to serve even 50 lakh visitors at Kaleshwaram.
Bandi Sanjay, along with his wife Bandi Aparna, visited Kaleshwaram in the afternoon. They took a holy dip in the Saraswati River while Vedic scholars chanted mantras. After the ritual, they went to the Srikaleshwara Mukteshwara Temple, where priests gave them special blessings.
Speaking to the media, Bandi Sanjay expressed joy at being part of the Pushkaram, which happens once every 12 years. He highlighted the spiritual importance of the place, where the Godavari, Pranahita, and Saraswati rivers meet. He said he prayed for the well-being of the nation and for everyone to serve the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
He argued that if the BJP were in power in Telangana, the festival would have been celebrated across the entire southern region. He said while there’s nothing wrong with hosting beauty contests, it’s unfortunate that a major religious event was ignored.
Bandi Sanjay also criticized the state government for blaming the Centre whenever issues are raised. “If the Central government is responsible for everything, why do we even need a state government?” he asked.
He emphasized that Pushkaram is not just a local event but a spiritual celebration for all. He wished all the pilgrims good health and long lives. He also pointed out that Kaleshwaram is an important religious site, but its image was damaged by the controversial Kaleshwaram project built under the KCR government.
He reminded the public that both the previous and current state governments promised large funds for temple development—₹100 crore by the last government and ₹200 crore by the current Chief Minister. Similar promises were made earlier for Vemulawada.
However, he said people now clearly see how little was actually delivered. “I want to move past these empty promises and truly develop Kaleshwaram as a top spiritual and tourist destination,” he concluded.
