Political Face-Off Erupts in Tirupati Over Cow Deaths at TTD Goshala
YSRCP alleges TTD negligence; TD leaders demand proof as police block rival rally in Tirupati
YSRC leaders, led by former TTD chairman and ex-MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, alleged that negligence by the TTD administration resulted in the death of over 100 cows there in the past three months. In response, Telugu Desam leaders, including state president Palla Srinivas Rao, demanded evidence. Both sides sought an inspection of the goshala.
Bhumana, accompanied by YSRC MP M Gurumurthy and a large group of supporters, attempted to march to the facility. However, the police halted the rally citing security concerns.
The authorities offered restricted access to only Bhumana and his personal staff, but he insisted on entry for the others too.
The standoff escalated. The police blocked the group, prompting Bhumana and other leaders to stage a protest by lying on the road. YSRC leaders alleged that the government was using police forces to suppress the truth. Bhumana Reddy urged the government to permit Karunakar Reddy to conduct an inspection of the goshala.
In contrast, alliance leaders and MLAs, including Bojjala Sudheer Reddy, K Murali Mohan, Srinivasulu Pulivarthi Nani and TTD board member Bhanu Prakash Reddy were allowed to visit the goshala along with their assistants and supporters. This led to allegations of biased rule enforcement.
Though the TD leaders later invited Bhumana to join them for discussions and the police agreed to permit a five-member YSRC team to go in, the larger crowd gathered at Bhumana's residence was denied entry.
Addressing a press conference, Bhumana claimed police had been deployed outside his residence since morning, stopping even the five-member team, including MP Gurumurthy and former ministers, from proceeding.
Bhumana said, “TTD records themselves confirmed 170 cow deaths since June 2024. The actual figure could be higher.” He accused the TD of falsely claiming that the YSRC had backed out of the challenge and reiterated his willingness to visit the goshala with his party leaders. He said that despite being in power for 11 months, the Naidu-led government failed to substantiate any allegations against him or the YSRC leadership.
On the other side, Srikalahasti MLA Sudheer Reddy slammed the YSRC, accusing it of insulting Hindu sentiments. He alleged that individuals who consumed beef abroad were now politicising cow protection.