BJP protests against 'jumbo' TTD board in Tirupati

Tirupati: BJP leaders strongly protested the 'jumbo-sized' TTD trust board constituted by the YSRCP government on the ground that it would only help rehabilitation of YSRCP leaders and giving positions to those favoured by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to boost up his image and in no way is beneficial to the TTD or serve the purpose of the pilgrims at large.

Further, it would also prove costly to TTD forcing it to spend huge amount of money that was offered by the poor pilgrims in the Hundi of Lord Venkateswara for travels and other expenses of the members of the board, the leaders said while announcing that they would burn the copies of the Government Orders (GOs) issued for the reconstitution of the 36-member board at a protest meeting here on Saturday.

Speaking to media, BJP state secretary and former TTD trust board member G Bhanuprakash Reddy and party state spokesperson Samanchi Srinivas here on Friday said Tirumala temple affairs should be spared from the whims and fancies of a person or a party as it is the holiest place for crores of Hindus all over the globe.

"Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan can act as he like in appointing any number of people for the management of a temple if it is of his own or his party,'' they said expressing concern that the approach of Jagan Mohan Reddy's government with regard to TTD was hurting the devotees.

To a question, Bhanuprakash said that though there was no ceiling on the number of trust board members but it should be adhered to acceptable norms and rationale as it is (board) connected with the management of a religious body which manages affairs of the devotees.

They said that BJP would not remain silent and intensify the agitation if the Chief Minister did not respond and set up a new board replacing the present jumbo board, and made it clear that their fight was not against any individual or party but only to safeguard the interests of Hindu devotees.