Karimnagar row over Veenavanka Sammakka Jatara management
TELANGANA: App TV chief executive officer Padi Uday Nandan Reddy on Friday asked BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy not to use his grandfather’s name for political purposes.
He said his grandfather, Padi Sudhakar Reddy, had nothing to do with Kaushik Reddy’s political lineage and alleged that repeated references were damaging his family’s reputation. “If necessary, he should use his own grandfather Raghupati Reddy’s name and continue his political career,” he told reporters.
‘Explain KCR’s statement or face defamation case’
Uday Nandan Reddy demanded that former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao clarify who told him that Kaushik Reddy’s grandfather was Sudhakar Reddy. He warned that he would file a defamation case if no explanation was offered.
He was responding to Thursday’s incident at the Veenavanka Sammakka Jatara, where Kaushik Reddy and his wife were removed from the gadda (ritual platform) by police.
‘We have managed the jatara since 1976’
Uday Nandan Reddy said the Sammakka Jatara at Veenavanka began in 1976 on land owned by his family under the leadership of his grandfather. He added that the first jatara was originally held in Raghupati Reddy’s mango orchard, but was later shifted to his family’s land after objections were raised over land ownership.
“Since then, the jatara has been conducted on our land for 48 years without any disturbance. Problems began only after Kaushik Reddy became an MLA,” he said.
He cited a previous High Court order stating that while his family would manage the jatara, the Endowments Department must supervise it. He alleged that Kaushik Reddy violated the order by climbing the gadda with coconuts even before the arrival of the deity, claiming he would conduct the jatara.
“The police acted only to implement the court order,” he said.
Uday Nandan Reddy also recalled that during the Telangana statehood movement, Kaushik Reddy had allegedly pelted stones when a ‘Telangana Dhoom Dham’ programme was organised in Veenavanka.
He said Kaushik Reddy should focus on raising his constituency’s issues in the Assembly and secure development funds instead of creating controversies.
