
BJP Demands Immediate Utilization of PRASAD Scheme Facilities for Devotees in Alampur
The visit, organized under the leadership of Alampur Town BJP President M. Sharath Babu, aimed to inspect the dining hall and accommodation blocks built under the Union Government's PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) Scheme. Addressing the media after the inspection, Ramachandra Reddy criticized the state government and Endowments Department for neglecting to put these ready-to-use facilities into service.
He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had allocated Rs. 80 crore to Alampur under the PRASAD Scheme in 2021, with the intention of improving infrastructure for devotees visiting the Jogulamba Temple, one of the 18 Shakti Peethas. However, only Rs. 36.72 crore has reportedly been utilized by local representatives, leaving a major part of the sanctioned funds unutilized. Even the infrastructure that was completed, such as lodging facilities and dining halls, remains inaccessible to pilgrims due to state inaction.
Ramachandra Reddy questioned, 'How much more time does the state government need to make these facilities available? Don't the sufferings of devotees matter to the state administration?' He accused the State Government and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha of not taking any steps to operationalize the new buildings and urged Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to personally take note of the situation.
He further highlighted the poor conditions at the current dining facility (Satra) near the temple, which is causing considerable inconvenience to devotees. He demanded that the dining services be shifted to the newly constructed building under the PRASAD Scheme immediately to ensure comfort and hygiene for the pilgrims.
Additionally, the BJP leaders called for the introduction of electric vehicles for the easy transportation of devotees and the immediate launch of the new accommodation facilities built with central funds.
The event was also attended by BJP's Alampur MLA candidate Rajagopal, State BJYM Vice President Rajashekar Sharma, Alampur Mandal BJP President Eshwar, District Council Member Rangaswamy, and Town BJP General Secretaries Naresh, Mahesh, and Parushuram, among others.
The BJP leaders pledged to continue their agitation until the state government fulfills its responsibility and ensures proper infrastructure for the devotees of Jogulamba Temple.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NDTV
27 minutes ago
- NDTV
Khalistani Terrorist Behind 16 Punjab Blasts Being Brought To India From US
New Delhi: US-based Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, who was arrested in April and sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, is now being brought to India, sources told NDTV on Monday. Singh is wanted in connection with at least 16 terror attacks across Punjab and is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Singh, who has also carried out multiple hand grenade attacks on police stations in Punjab and the US, faces more than 30 criminal cases. A resident of Amritsar, Punjab, Singh was arrested in the US on April 18 by teams of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the ICE. Kash Patel, the FBI Director, had assured that 'justice will be done' following his arrest. "Captured Harpeet Singh, part of an alleged foreign terrorist gang here illegally in the United States, who we believe was involved in planning multiple attacks on police stations both in India and the United States," he posted on X on April 22. CAPTURED: HARPREET SINGH, part of an alleged foreign terrorist gang here illegally in the United States, who we believe was involved in planning multiple attacks on police stations both in India and the United States. @FBISacramento conducted the investigation coordinating with… — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 21, 2025 "FBI Sacramento conducted the investigation coordinating with our partners locally as well as in India. Excellent work from all, and justice will be done. The FBI will continue finding those who perpetrate violence — no matter where they are," Mr Patel added. India's anti-terror agency, National Investigation Agency (NIA), had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on Singh.


NDTV
29 minutes ago
- NDTV
Siddaramaiah Clarifies After MLA's 'Development Or Guarantees' Remark
Bengaluru: Days after his close aide asked people to choose either election guarantees or development while hinting at a lack of funds, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that there was "no question" of changing the guarantee programmes. "There's no question of changing the guarantees programmes. It's for the poor from all communities and gives them economic and social security," he told reporters. Siddaramaiah's economic adviser, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, on Saturday told a public rally to choose between election guarantees and development. "Say I don't want rice or anything, if you say, "only build village roads", we will do that too. I will suggest Siddaramaiah stop it as people are asking us to, should I tell him?" he was heard saying in Kannada while addressing a gathering during the inauguration of a school building in his assembly constituency, Yelburga. "If you want an asphalt road or a school, understand that everything can't be done at once. You need to make it clear, say you don't want these other benefits, stop all that. If you ask us to build roads, we will build roads. If you say, "Build temples", we'll build only temples. It is because we must manage everything with the funds available," Mr Reddy said while hinting at a fund crunch. Siddaramaiah, however, said the state government is giving funds to all the MLAs. "This time, we are giving each MLA, even those from the Opposition, funds to build roads and bridges," the senior Congress leader said. The BJP seized on the opportunity to attack the Siddaramaiah-led government. "I think the government is bankrupt now. They are neither giving (election) guarantees nor building roads. They are not doing any development works and are just involved in corruption," Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, who is a Member of Parliament from Karnataka's Dharwad, told reporters.


The Hindu
41 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Attacks on Hindi-speaking people: BJP leader draws Pahalgam parallel to target Thackeray cousins
Amid violence against Hindi-speaking people, Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Sunday (July 6, 2025) drew parallels between the Pahalgam terror attack and the beating of "Hindus" in Mumbai in a veiled attack on the reunion of the Thackeray cousins. The senior BJP leader's remarks come amid an outrage caused by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists thrashing a sweet shop owner in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for not speaking Marathi. On Saturday, MNS workers damaged the glass door of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia's office in Worli after he declared he would not speak Marathi and dared the party chief Raj Thackeray. The row over speaking Marathi is escalating into a major political flashpoint ahead of the civic polls. "In the Pahalgam terror attack, people were asked about their religion [by terrorists] before shooting them. Here, people are being attacked based on their language, which is disappointing. "The state is watching how these leaders are enjoying other Hindus being beaten up," Mr. Shelar told reporters when asked about attacks on Hindi-speaking people allegedly by MNS workers. With MNS resorting to street-fighting over Marathi, actor and singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, has dared the Thackeray cousins to drive him out of Maharashtra for speaking in Bhojpuri. "I am giving an open challenge. I do not speak Marathi. I speak Bhojpuri, and I am staying in Maharashtra. Why are you driving poor people out? If you have the courage then drive me out. I am giving you a challenge, even in Mumbai," he told reporters. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a stage after nearly 20 years for the cause of the Marathi language and vowed to oppose the 'imposition' of Hindi in Maharashtra after the state government rolled back the GRs on the introduction of Hindi as a third language in primary schools. Slamming the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the coming together of the Thackerays has unnerved ruling Mahayuti leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Targeting Fadnavis who had claimed that Uddhav Thackeray delivered a 'rudali' (professional mourner) like speech at the joint rally, Raut said, 'Fadnavis and [Deputy CM Eknath] Shinde should start a weeping programme now [with the two Thackeray brothers coming together]'. After the rally, Mr. Raut said, leaders from several south Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, have asserted that they can fight the Centre and 'overthrow the imposition of Hindi". As the row over true custodians of Marathi escalated, Shiv Sena MLA and Maharashtra minister Pratap Sarnaik on Sunday credited Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for giving justice to Marathi manoos and ensuring classical language status for the Marathi language by following up with the Centre. In a letter to Mr. Shinde, Mr. Sarnaik stated that people are wise to understand that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS have come together to win power in the Mumbai civic body and not in the interest of Marathi. He said the Sena (undivided) controlled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for 25 years and during this period, the Marathi manoos was driven out of the hotel industry, real estate, and gold and silver jewellery shops. "People are wise enough to know that they (Sena UBT and MNS) have come to win power in the BMC. Their [the Sena UBT's] soul is stuck in the coffers of the BMC. UBT's politics has been very selfish, fake and treacherous. Which is why UBT's colleagues are abandoning the party," Mr. Sarnaik said. "The MNS and the Sena (UBT) keep saying that they have come together in the interest of Marathi. So, for whose interest did they separate years ago? There is no love for Marathi, its culture and language, and Marathi manoos," he added. Mr. Shelar, meanwhile, said the attacks on Hindi-speaking people allegedly by MNS workers were disappointing and asserted "Marathi is not a political issue for us." He said the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies would perform poorly in the upcoming civic elections. "Compared to the previous elections, they will win fewer seats. They are going to lose," he added.