TTD Member Opposes K’taka CM’s Demand for Special Tirumala Privileges
Reddy wanted the Chief Minister to withdraw his statement and assured to raise the issue in the ensuing TTD Board meeting and pass a resolution against Karnataka Chief Minister’s statement on extending special privilege to Ministers/ MLAs /judges among others.
BENGALURU: Untill now, the Chief Miniarwe of Karnataka is entitled to have access to first aarti to Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala of Andhra Pradesh and the State Government is all set to issue a new protocol order to extend such an privilege to allow elected representatives, officials and dignitaries from the State to participate in the first aarti of the Lord Venkateshwara.
“I have instructed officials concerned to issue an order to extend this privilege to any dignitary who visits Tirumala for darshan of Lord Venkateshwara be it ministers, MLAs, senior officials, judges or anyone representing the government, said the Chief Minister and explained “Many MLAs and public representatives from Karnataka have returned without the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. Now (new order) will give an opportunity for devotees (dignitaries) to stand before the deity and receive the aarti.”
“This is the major announcement that will happen during my tenure (as Chief Minister of Karnataka),” he said and recalled “During my recent visit to Tirumala, I was reminded about the Karnataka Trust constituted during the late Chief Minister S.M. Krishna at Tirumala and made me its chairman with the intention of building a grand structure. But then our government term came to an end and the dream could not be materialised.” Shivakumar stated that the “7-acre plot is available at Tirumala granted by the Maharajas of Mysore.”
Taking serious objection to the D.K. Shivakumar’s statement on extending special privilege of access to first aarti of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Bhanu Prakash Reddy stated “The special privilege is meant only for Maharajas of Mysore and not for you or your ministers.”
Reddy wanted the Chief Minister to withdraw his statement and assured to raise the issue in the ensuing TTD Board meeting and pass a resolution against Karnataka Chief Minister’s statement on extending special privilege to Ministers/ MLAs /judges among others. “It is not right,” said the TTD Board member.
