Telangana camaraderie: CM KCR and Governor Tamilisai inaugurate places of worship at Secretariat

Also read: Telangana Secretariat, India’s ‘tallest’ administrative building

He invited her to visit the newly-built secretariat and take part in the inauguration of the places of worship — meant for the spiritual needs of the employees in the secretariat — which held no match to the temple and mosque that existed at the Old Secretariat.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao speaks after inaugurating the mosque on Friday, 25 August. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi are also seen. (Telangana CMO/X)

The dignitaries went around in the same car, lending a spirit of joie de vivre to the occasion. The Governor was given due importance during the tour of the secretariat.

They first inaugurated the Nalla Pochamma Temple and watched the installation of the idols and the dhawaja sthambas. Idols of Shiva and Anjaneya Swamy were also installed. KCR and Soundararajan took part in the poornahuthi and mangala harathi rituals.

Later, they participated in the inauguration of a church and cut a cake, after a Bible reading by Bishop MA Daniel. Also present were Minority Affairs Minister Koppula Eshwar, Christian Finance Corporation Chairman, former MLC Rajeshwar Rao, Christian Minority Finance Corporation MD A Kanti Wesley, and Minority Commission Vice Chairman Shankar Luke.

Church of South India Bishop K Padmarao and Bishop John Gollapally also offered special prayers. The event was also attended by Secretariat Christian Association members.

KCR and the Governor finally attended the inauguration of the nearby masjid. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi was among the Muslim elders who attended the prayers.

CM KCR with Governor Tamilsai Soundararajan at the inauguration of the church. (Supplied)

On the occasion, KCR said: “This is a very happy time. Allah’s grace is upon us. Such brotherhood should flourish in the state of Telangana… Our secretariat stands as the best example of where these three places of worship are in one place. Hindu, Muslim, and Christian brothers are moving forward together, praying and showing unity. All India can learn from Telangana.”

The newfound camaraderie between KCR and Soundararajan seemed to have signalled the return of the better days for the government. It is possible that the Governor might give her assent to several Bills pending before her.

The sudden cessation of hostilities between KCR and Soundararajan came as a surprise as they had not been seeing eye to eye till recently.

The BRS leaders were fretting and fuming against the Governor after she held back assent to the TSRTC Bill, meant to absorb the employees of the corporation on government rolls.

About the places of worship

I Ganpati Reddy, the chief engineer of Telangana Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, which did the work on the three places of worship, told South First: “Prior to the construction we took assent of all the religious leaders to confirm if everything is according to the beliefs of the particular community.”

He added that the R&B Department would be monitoring the maintenance of the newly inaugurated religious spaces.

While the Nalla Pochamma Temple has been built in the southwest part of the secretariat along with the Ganesha, Anjaneyaswami and Subhramanyam swami temple, the mosque has been constructed across from the temple. The church is nearby.

The construction cost of all the three put together is around ₹10 crore. The temple and the mosque are constructed in an area of 1500 sq yards each and the church in an area of 500 sq yards.

The old mosque and temple were damaged during the dismantling of the old secretariat building. The new buildings are constructed subsequent to the promise made by KCR that new and better ones would be constructed. The old ones were comparatively smaller than the new places of worship.