At first they abandoned it out of ignorance and the Hindu fishermen in the region have started worshipping it after installing it at a different place. But now the Christians claim the ownership of this powerful idol as it was them who recovered it! This fight reached it’s climax on Friday.
Uppada has people belonging to ‘Christians in majority. But with the recovery of the Shiva Lingam, Converted Christian fisherman started changing their faith back to Hinduism after this recovery of Shiva and Ganesh idols. Fights are ensuing at the time of re-conversion.
The administration has not so far turned up at Uppada, to determine the age and origin of the Shivalinga. Endowments officials are yet to find time to make a visit. Because of the apathy of Revenue officials to the issue, fisherfolk are at loggerheads over the issue. Certain fanatic Christian groups are of the opinion that Sivalingam should be taken away from there as it may adversely affect their conversion programmes. East Godavari is notorious for rampant conversions by force and allurement and they are very much active among the Fishermen community over here.
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