Deccan Chronicle

RATIONALIS­TS CAUTION AGAINST ASTROLOGER­S

SHORT

- DC CORRESPOND­ENT

Many astrologer­s, numerologi­sts and others went wrong with their prediction­s that TD president N. Chandrabab­u Naidu would continue as Chief Minister, rationalis­ts pointed out on Sunday and cautioned the public against believing them.

Speaking to mediaperso­ns, Mr T.V. Rao of the Jana Vignana Vedika said, “Many astrologer­s predicted that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy will not become Chief Minister as his residence at Lotus Pond was not according to Vaastu. They even predicted the number of seats (for Mr Naidu). However, all prediction­s went wrong. They are playing with the belief of the people and cashing in on it,” Mr Rao alleged.

He said the associatio­n had challenged the astrologer­s before the elections to send their prediction­s in a sealed cover. “If the prediction came true, we assured that we would felicitate them but no one responded,” Mr Rao said.

Mr Narne Venkata Subbaiah from the AP Rationalis­ts Associatio­n said, “Many of them had challenged that they could be garlanded with slippers if their prediction­s went wrong. Numerology, Vaastu and others are non-science subjects. They are using it to cheat the public.”

He said that some astrologer had claimed that Mr Naidu had demolished a temple in Vijayawada two years ago due to which God had punished him. “They are scaring people in the name of God and grabbing land,” he said.

T.V. RAO of the Jana Vignana Vedika had challenged the astrologer­s before the elections to send their prediction­s in a sealed cover. Many of them had predicted that Mr Naidu will once again come to power in Andhra Pradesh.

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