Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas assailed state BJP leadership that temples were demolished and their lands sold away during the TDP and BJP government.

"I question Somu Veerraju if they were not the culprits in demolishing temples. Where did Veerraju sit that time? Why didn't Veerraju talk that time," questioned Srinivas.

Srinivas reminded that he was in BJP when temples were being demolished and he rushed back to Vijayawada from Bhimavaram to declare strike.

Though he wanted to protest against the then government, Srinivas said BJP did not endorse his strike back then.

Srinivas was referring to the demolitions carried out during the erstwhile TDP government.

"When I wanted to protest the temple demolitions, BJP gave a statement that it was my personal interest and not from the party," he said.

He criticised the BJP leadership for changing colours after losing power.

The minister said the BJP is creating an issue about those temples demolished in TDP regime because the state government has issued an order on Wednesday to rebuild some of them.

"Veerraju is doing these dramatic protests because YSRCP will get a good name by rebuilding some of those temples," he said.

Srinivas said the government decided to rebuild back in October itself but gave the order on Wednesday.

He criticised BJP for politicising even the rebuilding of temples and playing a political game.

Srinivas reminded that when a BJP endowments ministers, Pydikondala Manikyala Rao, was in power, the state government sold away Durga temple lands to a college very cheaply.

He said 14 acres of land worth more than Rs 400 crore was sold away to a college which is known for its profiteering nature.

The minister also recalled that Rao had also allowed the sale of 200 acres of land belonging to Mantralayam temple which went unquestioned by BJP leader Vishu Vardhan Reddy back then.

"In Visakhapatnam Rushikonda beach, Rao renewed permission to a resort. Will anybody give endowments lands to a resort where alcohol is served," he said.

In YSRCP government, Srinivas claimed not even a single square foot of temple lands were sold.

"They did injustices and now trying to malign the government as anti-Hindu. Isn't this wrong? Isn't this changing words every time for the sake of politics?" he posed.

He said the government is working for the upkeep of all the temples and reminded that Rs 70 crore was sanctioned to develop the Durga temple in Vijayawada.

"You say money is being given to churches and dargahs but can't you see the money given to Durga temple," he said.

Srinivas said that BJP is playing all these tricks because of the forthcoming yet to be declared Tirupati Parliamentary by-election.

As somebody who worked in BJP, the minister said he knows who is what in that party and their capacities, while asserting that the 'Jai Sree Ram' slogan is not owned by the BJP.

"When I wanted to protest temple demolition, no BJP leader came to my support. That's why I left BJP despite being an incumbent party back then. I came out because of you inefficiency and collusion with TDP," said Srinivas.

He reminded that Veerraju did not cooperate when he wanted to highlight a gaushala (cow shelter) destruction which is now being developed with Rs 70 lakh in this government.

"We are not the people who removed the shelter for cows, we shelter cows," he claimed.

Srinivas questioned Veerraju if he should resign because he was developing goshalas or because he was restoring temple lands.