Hyderabad: “If AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu gives us an appointment to explain our issues why should we meet others,” Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) former chief priest Dr A.V. Ramana Deekshithulu questioned.
He said that he has made several attempts to meet Mr Naidu, but past TTD joint executive officer (JEO) Balasubramanyam and present JEO K.S. Srinivasa Raju are preventing the meeting. He alleged that Mr Bal-asubramanyam has misled the Chief Minister.
“My only intention is to protect the hereditary priest system, to safeguard the rich traditions and ancient rituals at Tirumala for future generations,” Ramana Deekshithulu said.
Regarding allegations of some jewels at the TTD temple going missing, he said, “I am telling something, the others are telling something...who is correct will be known only if a fact-finding committee probes. If the committee finds that I am wrong, I will be happy for not missing jewels of Lord Venkateswara.”??
AP State Brahmin Welfare Corporation chai-rman Vemuri Ananda Surya has alleged that Ramana Deekshithulu took the gold of Lord Venkateswara to Mumbai to make mangala sutras for the Kalyanamasthu programme and depreciated its value by 40 per cent.
When asked about this, Ramana Deekshithulu said, “Anand Surya never met me and he doesn't know about me.” He said that he never went outside, that his job is to look after the amenities accorded to pilgrims visiting the hill shrine whereas the religious staff safeguards the rich traditions and ancient rituals.
