Venkaiah, Dattatreya attend KCR's 'Maha Yagam'

Hyderabad: Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Bandaru Dattatreya, Supreme Court Justice J Chamaleshwar and several other prominent persons today attended the 'Ayutha Maha Chandi Yagam' performed by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

The state BJP unit had yesterday criticized the event accusing the Chief Minister of misusing government machinery and wasting public money.

The Chief Minister had dismissed the charge, claiming that no government money was being spent for the 'yagam' (ritual).

'Sapta Sathi, 'Navarana Puja', 'Maha Ganapathi Puja' were among the rituals performed on second day of the five-day 'Yagam' today, a release from CM's office said.

State Deputy Chief Minister Mehmood Ali, nominated Anglo-Indian MLA Stephenson also attended the 'yagam' today, it said.

The 'Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam', being performed for universal good and peace began yesterday at Rao's farm house in neighbouring Medak district.

President Pranab Mukherjee would attend the 'yagam' on December 27. Governors Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra K Rosaiah and C Vidyasagar Rao, respectively, are also expected to attend the event.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would attend the event on December 27.

The opposition Congress, BJP and CPI(M) had yesterday attacked the ruling TRS for alleged misuse of government machinery.

Alleging that donations have been received from contractors and businessmen by the ruling TRS, All India Congress Committee spokesperson and former MP Madhu Yashki Goud had demanded that the details of such collections be made public.

Congress would seek a CBI inquiry into the matter otherwise, he had said.

The BJP disapproved of the "exorbitant splurge of money and misusing government machinery for a personal event", though Telangana's party spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said that it supported performing "yagnas and yagas" for the larger public good.

The Telangana CPI(M) unit alleged that the 'yagam' being performed by the CM is against the Constitution as it promotes superstition among people.