Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is offering a ‘bangaru meesalu’ (gold moustache) costing around Rs 75,000 at Kuravi Veerabhadra Swamy Temple. This is happening after the controversial offering worth Rs 5.5 crore at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Chandrasekhar Rao has donated gold ornaments worth around Rs 5 crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, to fulfill a vow he had made for the realisation of separate state – Telangana.

Rao also plans to donate a golden crown for the idol of Goddess Bhadrakali of Warangal, a nose stud to goddess Kanaka Durga’s idol in Vijayawada and another to goddess Padmavathi’s idol in Tiruchanur.

It was rumoured that, the money for the donations had come from CM Rao’s personal wealth. But, reportedly the money came from the Common Good Fund for the Endowments Department, a fund meant for the up keep and renovation of ramshackled temples.

He was criticised by the main opposition parties Congress and BJP in Telangana for using the public money to fulfill his “personal vows” made to Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.

By Premji