Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy unleashed a scathing attack on the NDA coalition government on March 27, accusing it of trampling Hindu faith by overseeing the demolition of Kasinayana Kshetra in Nandyal’s Nallamala Forest.

The temple, recently flattened over alleged breaches of Forest Department rules, has ignited a fierce political row.

Reddy claimed his YSRCP government fought to protect the site, securing a plea for a 12.98-hectare exemption after the Centre halted construction on August 7, 2023. “We shielded temple lands, but within months of this regime, a sacred site was razed under their watch,” he said in a press release.

He pointed fingers at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, alleging the demolition followed direct orders from district officials acting on their behalf.

Labeling it a “barbaric attack on Hindu Dharma,” Reddy demanded answers: “Is this how they safeguard our religion?” He accused the TDP-led NDA of hypocrisy, tying the incident to the Tirumala laddu controversy and a deadly stampede as evidence of their failure to protect temples.

The YSRCP leader also called out Pawan Kalyan’s silence, challenging the government to justify its actions with facts. As tensions rise, the demolition has fueled a bitter clash over faith, governance, and accountability in Andhra Pradesh.