Hyderabad: “If AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu gives us an appointment to explain our issues why should we meet others,” Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) former chief priest Dr A.V. Ramana Deekshitulu questioned.
Ramana Deekshitulu was answering criticism of his meeting with YSRC chief and Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The meeting brought forth this tweet from AP IT minister Nara Lokesh: “Been saying this since long and now it is in the open. Ramana Deekshithulu called on Jagan on instructions from the BJP. Shame on them for their unholy nexus. Don’t ever play games with Lord Venkateswara Swamy. He will teach you guys a lesson that you will not forget.”
When asked about Lokesh’s allegation, Dr Deekshitulu said, “When Mr Naidu does not give appointment what to do I ? I am meeting all important people to request justice.”
Dr Deekshitulu told this newspaper: “I met Y.S. Jagan on Thursday. He reacted positively to our issues. I also sought appointment of APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and AP BJP president Kanna Lakshminarayana, and if they give me appointments I will meet them too.
“I am not interested in politics. I am interested only in continuation of hereditary priests. Whoever solves this issue we salute them. If Mr Naidu solves this issue we salute him.”
He said that they are not demanding any MLA post or any corporation post; they are asking for continuation of the hereditary priests system.
Dr Deekshitulu was asked regarding remarks made by Chilukur Balaji temple head priest C.S. Rangarajan which had gone viral. Mr Rangarajan had asked when Mr Naidu’s son Lokesh could become a minister, why should a priest’s son not become a priest. When Mr Naidu’s grandson gets special treatment in government functions, why was Dr Deekshitulu given a memo for taking his grandson to the temple, he had asked.
In reply, Dr Deekshitulu said he had never said anything like that and did not want to get embroiled in politics. “I am not interested in politics and giving political statements,” he said.
