Saraswati devotees fleeced

The Telangana bandh called by the JAC on Wednesday took a heavy toll on Aksharabhyasam, the ritual of auspicious beginning of learning for children, at the Basara Saraswati temple, on the occasion of Vasantha Panchami. Thousands of devotees from all parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states faced difficulties as the APSRTC stopped bus services to Basara from all parts of the state as a “precautionary reaction” to the bandh. Many passengers were stranded in bus stations in Secunderabad and Hyderabad since midnight on Tuesday.

 Meanwhile, taxi and other private transport operators, took advantage of cancelled buses to fleece commuters. “I came from Gulbarga to perform Aksharabhyasam of my daughter. When we approached taxi drivers, they demanded Rs 4,000, which we can’t afford,” said said Ms Suguna Pulsikar, a pilgrim.

“After a record turnout of over 1.5 lakh people last year, this year not even 50,000 devotees turned up. Last year we had performed Aksharabhyasam for over 2,000 kids. This time, it was just 700,” said Mr Narsimhulu, the executive officer, Basara Saraswati temple.