Tirupati: Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa filed his nomination papers on Monday to contest the presidential elections and landed in Tirumala on Tuesday to seek the blessings of Lord Venkateswara.
However, tight security at Tirumala and Tirupati in view Mr Rajapaksa’s visit inconvenienced locals and visiting devotees. Officials sealed the Alipiri toll gate leaving devotees and locals stranded at Alipiri for hours from Monday evening.
Additionally, several Tamil Nadu-based activists from various political parties, including the MDMK and others, arrived at Tirumala with an intention of obstructing Mr Rajapaksa’s convoy.
They were taken into custody by the Chittoor and Tirupati police wings on Tuesday. Extreme curbs irked devotees with TTD cancelling “Suprabatham” seva for devotees, reserving the first darshan only for Mr Rajapaksa.
