Tirupati: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning a door-to-door campaign in Tirupati to raise awareness on the alleged ‘misuse’ of hundi collections, after the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) pledged a portion of its budget for the sanitation needs of the temple town.
Speaking on the campaign, the party’s state spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy claimed the TTD has called for tenders worth '70 crore from the temple’s hundi collection for the sanitation works.
He questioned the need for using hundi collections for activities which fall under the purview of the urban local body.
He said it was important that the TTD concentrate on its core responsibilities.
Reddy said the MCT should give a statement on its tax collection and alleged the YSRC government was mirroring the Mughal-era taxation system.
The MCT must seek additional funds from the state government instead of diverting the TTD’s religious offerings, he said.
He clarified that the BJP was not against TTD funding sanitation needs in temples but opposed the ‘misuse' of sacred funds.
Last month, the TTD’s trust board decided to contribute for the sanitation expenses, in view of over 1 lakh pilgrims arriving in the city daily.
The saffron party leaders have contended that the TTD’s funds should be reserved for religious and dharmic purposes, labelling it a violation of the TTD Act.
They alleged the ruling YSR Congress government was neglecting the core responsibilities under the TTD Act.
