CM attempting to stall probe into TTD irregularities, says Bhumana
Anantapur: Former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy has said the sanctity and brand image of Tirumala have suffered under the rule of the Telugu Desam government.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, he said, has been continuing with his cheap games to stall a probe of any kind into the Tirupati stampede so as to cover up his guilt.
Speaking to the media in Tirupati on Sunday, Reddy noted that the Union home ministry had asked additional secretary (home) Sanjiv Jindal to probe the irregularities in TTD. “He was supposed to arrive here on Sunday, but another letter cancelling the trip was sent to the EO last night. This was purportedly after the CM and his deputy (PK) met Amit Shah, who is now on a visit of the state.”
He said, “The very fact that Centre is intervening and seeking a report on the January 8 stampede, the laddu issue, the fire at the prasadam counter and various irregularities in TTD, must shame the TD-led government. These incidents brought down the image of the pious Devastaham.”
“Chandrababu might manipulate institutions but he cannot manage God and the ire of the people,” he said, adding that there was no momentum to the judicial inquiry and other promises from the CM and his deputy. “Instead, Pawan Kalan keeps talking about Sanathana Dharma, and it seems he’s helpless.”
Drawing a contrast, Reddy said, “When I was chairman of TTD, I was invited for the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration. The the Centre has sought our help in crowd management for the event in Ayodhya.”
“Besides the stampede, there were four incidents -- of red sanders being seized in Tirumala, liquor and non-vegetarian food being available atop the hill shrine and the recent death of a boy, who came for darshan. There is no inquiry report yet on these,” he said.
“These sins will haunt the coalition and they cannot escape the wrath of God. There has been large-scale corruption atop Tirumala. Alliance leaders are busy making money for themselves by selling darshan tickets. The surrender of the CM and his deputy before the high and mighty in Delhi might have delayed the Centre’s intervention for the time being. But, they will face God’s curse,” Karunakar Reddy stated.
