Plea to give UT status to Tirupati

Kakinada: Bhogi Ganapathi Peetham founder Dusarlapudi Ramana Raju demanded that the Centre grant Union Territory status to the famous Thirumala hills and Tirupati to protect sanctity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, he said that though the Trust Boards were appointed by the State government, the Board members did not take any steps to provide facilities to the pilgrims and protect the sanctity of the hills so far.

He alleged that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy distributed the Trust Board posts to all the states as if giving shares of his property. He said that in these circumstances, the Tirumala Hills and also Tirupati should be brought under status of a Union Territory.

He also advised the government to set up old age homes in every district, run by TTD and curb misuse of funds on the hills.