Vizianagaram: AP Government laid foundation stone for the renovation and reconstruction of Kodanda Ramalayam at the hill top of Ramateertham in Vizianagaram on Wednesday.

AP Deputy Chief Minister P. Pushpa Srivani, Endowments Minister V Srinivas and Municipal Minister Botsa Satyanarayana attended the ceremony of the foundation stone laying for the temple.

One hour of before foundation stone laying ceremony, temple trustee Ashok Gajapati Raju tried to stop the foundation stone ceremony with a pretty cause of the names was scripted in the plaque. He and other TDP leaders entered into an argument with the officials and tried to remove the plaque.

Temple trustee Ashok Gajapati Raju was apparently angry over his name being written at the bottom of the plaque. He alleged that the state government ignored the protocol and also violated tradition and culture. He said the temple committee was not consulted before deciding the foundation stone ceremony.

amateertham temple was in news in December last year after unidentified persons vandalized a 400 year old idol of Lord Rama, triggering massive protest by the opposition parties.

Endowments Minister V. Srinivas reiterated that the State Government is committed towards the development of Ramateertham temple. The Endowment Minister said that Ashok Gajapati Raju created chaos by forcibly removing the plaque which had the names of Minister and Government officials engraved on it as per the protocol.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had intended to develop Kodanda Ramalayam in Ramateertham as the second Bhadradri temple and the government has sanctioned the funds. The government has taken steps to preserve the culture and traditions but people like Ashok are obstructing good deeds, Endowment Minister V Srinivas said.