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Govinda, Govindaa in Tirumala
Highlights
They staged a sit-in at the Chairman’s office to question non-issuance of Rs. 300 special entry darshan tickets and also protest against the black marketing of VIP darshan passes. They managed to have the darshan of the Lord after the protest. However, the devotees were in for a rude shock when they learnt that cases were registered against them. The cases have been booked under Section 341 of IPC.
The TTD-devotee scuffle has turned murky drawing attention from across the world. Ever since the episode, criticizms have been pouring in against the police for booking cases against devotees for staging a sit -in protest on Vaikunta Dwadasi on Sunday in Tirumala.
The public is fuming over the injustice meted out to devotees every time while TTD security gives preferential treatment to the VIPs.It is for the first time in the country that a temple authority has booked cases against devotees.
Tirumala: TTD to withdraw cases against devotees
Amid criticizms from all the corners, the TTD has finally decided to withdraw cases booked against the devotees for staging a protest in Tirumala on Sunday.
This was announced by the TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapi Raju on Thursday evening. Speaking to the media, Bapi Raju who is also a Congress MP said that they will see that nothing like this will happen in the future, but devotees should abide by the rules.
Interestingly, Bapi Raju agreed to the TDP allegations that TTD officials have provided darshan for Dawood Ibrahim's gang.
He however claimed that they did not know they are Dawaood's men and they were allowed darshan as per protocol only because they were accompanied by a Maharashtra minister.
What made devotees angry that day?
It is learnt that TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapi Raju who is also a member of the Parliament representing Narsapuram constituency, told devotees of his constituency to get the darshan of Lord Venkateswara for just Rs 300 on the Vaikunta Dwadasi, which is the most auspicious day in Hindu Calendar. But Bapi Raju couldn't fulfill his promise to the public as TTD security officials objected to it. Irked over this, the devotees staged a protest at the TTD chairman's camp office. They staged a sit-in at the Chairman’s office to question non-issuance of Rs. 300 special entry darshan tickets and also protest against the black marketing of VIP darshan passes. They managed to have the darshan of the Lord after the protest. However, the devotees were in for a rude shock when they learnt that cases were registered against them. The cases have been booked under Section 341 of IPC.
Several political parties have taken serious objections to this and threatened to stall the TTD operations and attack the TTD office if they failed to remove cases against devotees.
Irrespective of the warnings, TTD EO said that all kinds of dharnas and protests are prohibited in Tirumala and they would act accordingly against the protesters.
Book cases against those selling VIP tickets: BJP
BJP state president G Kishan Reddy on Thursday demanded stringent action against those selling VIP tickets. He said that his party, the BJP strongly condemned cases against devotees.
The BJP state president also demanded that the government initiate a high-level probe into the incident and action be taken against officials who booked the cases.
Tirupati Urban Superintendent of Police S.V. Rajasekhar Babu said, cases were booked as per the TTD rule.
Actor Shivaji to the rescue of devotees 
Shivaji staged a dharna in front of the TTD office near Liberty demanding removal of illegal cases booked against the devotees.
Telugu actor Shivaji has turned hero in real life. We know that the actor extended his support to the families of Mahbubnagar bus accident victims by demanding justice. Now, he has come to the rescue of Tirumala devotees.
Shivaji staged a dharna in front of the TTD office near Liberty demanding removal of illegal cases booked against the devotees.Shivaji demanded that TTD chairman Bapi Raju be removed from his post for causing inconvenience to normal devotees.
Cases should be booked against the TTD EO, Chairman for issuing nine thousand passes for a single day leading to a chaos and putting devotees in trouble.
BJP to file case against TTD EO, Chairman
The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are all set to counter the TTD move against the devotees. The party leaders are now geared up to file a complaint with the district superintendent of police against TTD officials. The BJP party leaders disclosed that they are about to file a case against TTD chairman, EO and JEO.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) responded to the pleas of TDP and BJP over filing cases against devotees.
The SHRC has directed the TTD chairman to submit a detailed report on the issue before January 30.
There is a big scam taking place in the name of VIP passes: TDP
Earlier in the day, TDP senior leader Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu alleged that the TTD officials apart from giving guest house for Dawood Ibrahim's gang allowed smooth darshan for them.
The TDP leader also leveled several allegations saying they are allowing darshans for so called VIPs who have contacts with terrorists and red sanders smugglers. He demanded that they reveal the number of times Kiran's bother had visited the temple and how much importance was given to him. There is a big scam taking place in the name of VIP passes, he added.
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