The Andhra Pradesh government has suddenly withdrawn a recent order that asked officials to act against illegal churches. The decision to cancel the directive, issued just 23 days earlier, has raised many questions as no official explanation was provided.
The original order, issued on February 10, told district officers to check churches in their areas and take action against those without proper approvals. It was based on state building rules and a complaint from a resident named Prasanna Kumar Peddireddy from West Godavari district.
The order caused controversy as Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who leads the Panchayat Raj Department, has been promoting Hindutva and Sanatana Dharma.
Many saw the directive as politically motivated, especially since Kalyan’s party, Jana Sena, is part of the state’s ruling coalition. Critics argued that the order showed religious bias instead of a secular approach to governance.
It is unclear if Kalyan personally directed the order, but its timing led to speculation about political influences. The quick cancellation has only added to the confusion, and neither Kalyan nor the Panchayat Raj Department has explained the decision.
Tensions within the government
This incident also highlights ideological differences within Andhra Pradesh’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has traditionally followed a secular path, while Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party has moved closer to the Hindutva ideology in recent years. This shift is significant because, five years ago, Jana Sena had a completely different stance.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which openly supports Hindutva and is also part of the NDA, has not commented on the issue. Analysts believe the government withdrew the order to avoid upsetting minority communities and maintain the coalition’s secular image.
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