Sir — Reports that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao offered a 11.7-kg gold crown worth Rs 3.7 crore to goddess Bhadrakali for the fulfillment of his desire for a separate State, are bizarre. India is a secular democratic republic and, therefore, utilising public fund solely for religious purposes by an elected representative is irrational. It’s also a brazen violation of the secular provisions defined in our Constitution.
The reticence of the Opposition and our unbiased political intelligentsia on this issue is questionable. Undoubtedly, such decisions by our leaders can crumple people’s confidence in our system.