The “Vijayawada Utsav” which was kicked off with a lot of grandeur coinciding with Dasara festivities in Vijayawada has kicked up a lot of political controversy, as the opposition YSR Congress party accuses the Telugu Desam Party leaders of using the event to swindle public money and grab temple lands.
The YSRCP has particularly targeted Vijayawada MP Kesineni Chinni who has personally taken the initiative to organise the event.
The party accused Chinni of trying to encroach upon temple lands at Gollapudi and collecting huge amounts for the festival.
The MP, however, clarified that the event was being organised under the aegis of Society for Vibrant Vijayawada under “One City, One Festival” initiative. No committee member collected money in the name of the Utsav.
“The exhibition was planned not to encroach upon temple lands but to develop them. We have taken the endowment lands near Gollapudi on a 56-day lease agreement by paying Rs 45 lakh to the government, and the lands would be returned once the lease ends,” he said.
Chinni dismissed the opposition’s allegations, saying they were resorting to false propaganda to stay politically relevant. The developed lands could later be leased for other events, bringing further revenue to the Endowments Department.
He said special attractions of the festival include daily drone shows at Punnami Ghat, a fireworks display on September 24 coinciding with the visit of Vice-President Radhakrishnan, boat races, and night-time snake boat rides.
Over 11 days, 256 programmes will be conducted with unprecedented public participation, Chinni said.
The exhibition grounds are being prepared to accommodate 15 lakh visitors. Eleven film-related events will also be organised to provide entertainment. Only vegetarian food stalls are being permitted, he added.