Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has once again proved that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board is a “political rehabilitation centre,” says Andhra Pradesh State BJP president Daggubati Purandeswari.
In a social media post on August 26, Ms. Purandeswari said the nomination of P. Sarat Chandra Reddy, who was allegedly involved in the Delhi liquor scam, and scam-tainted Ketan Desai, former president of the Medical Council of India (MCI), as members of the board emphasised the fact that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy did not believe in the board’s sanctity and of the temple.
The BJP condemns these nominations, Ms. Purandeswari said in her message. The BJP leader also tagged a letter purportedly sent by the Chief Minister’s Office to the Special Chief Secretary (Endowments), wherein it was mentioned that “the Chief Minister desires Mr. Sarath Chandra Reddy, Mr. Desai and 22 others to be appointed as members of the TTD Board.”
Sadhu Parishad’s appeal
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Parishad State president Swami Srinivasananda alleged in Srikakulam that the State government had converted the TTD Board into a political rehabilitation centre and a platform to benefit the loyalists of various States.
“The government has sent a wrong signal to society with its decision,” he said.
“The government should select persons having knowledge about Indian tradition, culture, and spirituality as TTD Board members. Unfortunately, such qualities are lacking among many of the new nominees. We appeal to the government to select persons with such qualities so that they can serve the devotees and improve the functioning of the TTD,” Swami Srinivasananda said.
Referring to the leopard attacks in the recent past, he said that arranging a fence would be better than giving sticks to the devotees trekking up to Tirumala.
