While it remains unclear whether the Panchayat Raj Department, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, acted on direct instructions from the minister, the directive could be seen as religious bigotry taking precedence over secular governance.
Published Mar 07, 2025 | 12:17 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 07, 2025 | 12:17 AM
Pawan Kalyan
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Department has revoked an earlier directive instructing district officers to act against illegal churches just 23 days after issuing it, without providing a reason. The flip-flop comes amidst Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s (who heads the department) increasing Hindutva rhetoric.
The department, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, had issued the directive via an official memo on 10 February, instructing district panchayat officers to survey churches in their respective districts and take action against those without necessary clearances.
The order cited legal provisions under the Andhra Pradesh Gram Panchayat Land Development (Layout and Building) Rules, 2002, and its amendment under Government Order MS No.67 (PR&RD) dated 26 February 2002 and Government Order MS No.376 (PR&RD) dated 29 November 2012.
The directive was based on a representation by Prasanna Kumar Peddireddy, a resident of Palakol in West Godavari district.
The original memo had the potential to spark controversy, as Kalyan has lately been a staunch advocate of Hindutva and Sanatana Dharma.
While it remains unclear whether the Panchayat Raj commissioner acted on direct instructions from the minister, the directive could be seen as religious bigotry taking precedence over secular governance.
The withdrawal also comes amid existing ideological contradictions within the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party has long maintained a secular approach, while Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, the junior partner in its first government since its founding ten years ago, has increasingly positioned itself as a defender of Sanatana Dharma.
This is despite Kalyan’s positioning the party on the other end of the spectrum five years earlier.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, has been an original proponent of Hindutva.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
