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TTD case against hero Surya father for defamatory comments

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TTD case against hero Surya father for defamatory comments

The Andhra Pradesh Government is not sparing even persons from outside the state in respect of its prestige issues. Now, a case is filed against Tamil hero Surya father Siva Kumar for allegedly making some derogatory comments.

Recently, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has been figuring frequently in controversies. Along with Siva Kumar, seven others were involved in the case. The complaint was made by a Tamil Nadu person.

The complainant said that Sivakumar and others were launching negative propaganda against the TTD. They were accused of spreading rumours that Tirupati and Tirumala became home for anti-social activities. The complainant said that the accused persons were telling people not to go to Tirumala because of threats from anti-social elements.

The TTD took the issue seriously and the police have booked the case. Already, the TTD is troubled with the Coronavirus impact and also cautious about preventive measures during reopening of the Seven Hills temple for devotees. At this juncture, defamatory comments are being taken seriously. It is not yet known on what grounds the complaint was lodged against the Surya father.

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Srivari darsan will start at Tirumala from June 11: TTD

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Srivari darsan will start at Tirumala from June 11: TTD

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams temple at Tirumala will reopen for darshanams from June 11. TTD Chairman SV Subba Reddy has announced this today. The decision is taken at a high level meeting. All preventive measures against Coronavirus will be taken up with more emphasis in view of the arrival of large crowds of devotees.

Subba Reddy said that children below 10 years and those above 65 years age would not be allowed darsanam. These categories of people were found to be vulnerable to the virus infections. The online booking of tickets will be opened. Also, manual booking will be provided at the Alipiri entrance gate in Tirupati.

All devotees must necessarily pass through the thermal scanning at the Alipiri Gate. Anybody found reporting temperatures above the limit would not be allowed. At the same time, social distancing would be strictly enforced during the stay of pilgrims at the temple. Only one hour darsan would be given for VIPs. Srivari Mettu route would remain closed for some more time till further orders. There will be no entrance for devotees into the Pushkarini.

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Tirumala temple to hold ‘trial run of darshan’ with limited devotees

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Tirumala temple to hold ‘trial run of darshan’ with limited devotees

The Andhra Pradesh government has given nod to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) to conduct a trial run of ‘darshan’ at the Tirumala temple with TTD employees and local devotees.

On a request by the TTD, which manages the affairs of the world’s richest Hindu temple, the state government accorded the permission with the concurrence of the department of health and family welfare.

In a memo issued by JSV Prasad, Special Chief Secretary to the state government, the TTD will hold a “trial run for TTD employees and local public of Tirumala, with limited number of people duly ensuring physical distance of 6 feet at all times and all points”.

The order was issued on a request made by the Executive Officer of TTD through a letter on May 12.

The nod came a day after the Centre began ‘Unlock Phase-I’. Under the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is proposed to allow places of worship to reopen from June 8.

The Andhra Pradesh government, however, has not yet issued any guidelines to implement Unlock Phase-I. It is still continuing the restrictions on the inter-state movement of people.

The nod to TTD, however, indicates that the state government may allow reopening of places of worship from June 8.

TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy had said on May 20 that resumption of ‘Srivari darshan’ to devotees depends on the central government decision to lift the lockdown.

“We have been receiving emails and phones on when we would resume ‘darshan’. But it all depends on the government’s decision on lifting of lockdown,” he had said.

Closed for devotees for ‘darshan’ since March 19, the hill shrine is losing almost Rs 200 crore in revenue every month.

With revenues reaching rock bottom, TTD is struggling to pay salaries to its employees and make other payments towards maintenance and security of the temple.

Daily offerings made by devotees in ‘Hundi’ is the main sources of revenue for the temple which attracts 50,000 to one lakh pilgrims every day.

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U-Turn: TTD halts auction of Srivari assets, Subba Reddy cries falsehood

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U-Turn: TTD halts auction of Srivari assets, Subba Reddy cries falsehood

In a complete U-turn, a crucial meeting of the TTD trust board headed by chairman Y V Subba Reddy, on Thursday has decided to halt the controversial auction of Srivari assets in Tamil Nadu.

A decision to this effect was taken at the TTD trust board meeting on Thursday which was attended by TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal, board members Karunakar Reddy and Chevi Reddy Bhaskar Reddy among others. Surprisingly, the TTD trashed the reports on auction of TTD assets as baseless and falsehood.

At the TTD meeting, board members said decided to initiate action against “those spreading falsehood” and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

If auction of TTD assets was baseless and false, YV Subba Reddy should explain why Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy issued a GO halting the auction of the TTD assets in Tamil Nadu? That begs one to ask ‘who is spreading falsehood?’

Y V Subba Reddy, who is maternal uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, should explain if the GO (No888) issued by the Andhra Pradesh government halting the auction of TTD assets was falsehood?

It may be noted that the Andhra Pradesh government had asked the TTD to stop any move to auction the temple assets in Tamil Nadu or in other parts of the country. Additionally, the Jagan government had asked TTD to consult Hindu religious leaders and Hindu devotees in matters related to Tirumala. The state government also directed the TTD to review its decision taking into consideration the sentiments of crores of Hindu devotees.

“Keeping in view the sentiments of devotees, the government hereby direct TTD to reexamine the issue in consultation with different stakeholders like religious elders, opinion makers, section of devotees etc. to ascertain whether these properties can be used by TTD for construction of temples, dharma pracharam and other religious activities,” the GO noted.

Is this falsehood?

Further, Subba Reddy should explain if it is falsehood that the TTD did not hold a meeting recently deciding to auction 50 immovable properties in AP and Tamil Nadu saying they were “unviable, not useful and prone to encroachment”.

Is it falsehood that the TTD did not hold a meeting last Saturday where the board had set up two committees to sell what it calls ”unviable and not maintainable” properties in Tamil Nadu through public auction.

What warranted Subba Reddy to give an explanation last Sunday?

Read in his own words…
“The practice of selling immovable and non-maintainable properties has been in vogue since 1974. Around 129 such properties were disposed of between 1974 and 2014. It was at the board meeting held on July 28, 2015, headed by the then chairman Chadalawada Krishnamurthy that resolution No.84 was passed to form a sub-committee to study the prospects of auctioning such properties. The meeting on January 30, 2016, gave the nod to the sub-committee’s proposal to dispose of 50 such properties that ranged between one cent and five cents. It is difficult to monitor and maintain. This board only continued the process. We have only set up committees to draw a roadmap on which assets to be auctioned, the upset price and other issues. The assets are mostly in Vellore, Kanchipuram, Tirutani and other far -off locations in Tamil Nadu. The agricultural lands in these areas do not exceed more than one acre or two acres, while house sites are in the range of 1 cent, 2 cent, 3 cents or maximum 5 cents. It is difficult to protect these properties. There is a possibility of encroachment.”

Meanwhile, a petition was also filed in the AP High Court on Tuesday directing the court to halt the auction of 50 TTD assets in Tamil Nadu. TTD, which manages the affairs of Sri Venkateswara temple, has decided to auction 50 properties situated in various parts of Tamil Nadu, mainly in Kanchipuram, Vellore and Tirutani. On Tuesday, the petitioner Amarnath through his counsel appealed to the High Court to set up a judicial committee to provide constitutional protection to safeguard temple properties. Further, the petitioner appealed to the court to notify the movable and immovable assets of TTD. The petitioner contended that auction of TTD assets will denude the temples of their properties and any act that involves loss of properties of the temples for the purposes other than those intended for the benefit or necessity of the temples will hurt the sentiments of the Hindu devotees. The petitioner has impleaded Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, endowments special secretary and TTD executive officer in the case. The petitioner argued that these assets were gifted to the TTD by devotees of Lord Balaji and the government has no right to sell them under the pretext of the properties being untenable and non-remunerative.

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TTD, Jagan govt dragged to High Court over auction of temple assets

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TTD, Jagan govt dragged to High Court over auction of temple assets

The proposed auction of temple assets by Tirmuala Tirupati Devasthanam trust board does not seem to die down anytime soon. Despite the Jagan government issuing a GO to halt the auction of TTD assets, the issue has now landed in the High Court. A legal battle has started brewing in Andhra Pradesh High Court over the proposed sale of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) properties in Tamil Nadu.

A petition was filed in the AP High Court on Tuesday directing the court to halt the auction of 50 TTD assets in Tamil Nadu. TTD, which manages the affairs of Sri Venkateswara temple, has decided to auction 50 properties situated in various parts of Tamil Nadu, mainly in Kanchipuram, Vellore and Tirutani.

On Tuesday, the petitioner Amarnath through his counsel appealed to the High Court to set up a judicial committee to provide constitutional protection to safeguard temple properties. Further, the petitioner appealed to the court to notify the movable and immovable assets of TTD. The petitioner contended that auction of TTD assets will denude the temples of their properties and any act that involves loss of properties of the temples for the purposes other than those intended for the benefit or necessity of the temples will hurt the sentiments of the Hindu devotees. The petitioner has impleaded Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, endowments special secretary and TTD executive officer in the case.

The petitioner argued that these assets were gifted to the TTD by devotees of Lord Balaji and the government has no right to sell them under the pretext of the properties being untenable and non-remunerative. On Saturday, the TTD trust board had set up two committees to sell what it calls ”unviable and not maintainable” properties in Tamil Nadu through public auction.

The properties which are proposed to go for auction are agriculture lands, houses, house sites and vacant lands gifted by devotees.

TTD chairman Y V Subba Reddy, who is also Jagan Mohan Reddy’s maternal uncle, initially stated that the TTD has decided to auction 50 immovable properties in AP and Tamil Nadu which are unviable, not useful and prone to encroachment so as per Rule 165 of Chapter -XXII issued in government order (GO) Ms No.311, Revenue (Endowment 1) Department, dated 09-04-1990. The TTD Board is competent to sell, exchange and mortgage are immovable properties if found beneficial to TTD.” However, on Monday Y V Subba Reddy in a U-turn said the TTD has not decided to auction the properties but was only mulling a roadmap on the modalities of which lands can be auctioned, upset price and other related issues.

“The government will do everything to protect the temple properties and will always work in the service of God. The TTD meeting was held on Saturday to discuss on how to protect these properties. Further, Subba Reddy said the practice of selling immovable and non-maintainable properties has been in vogue since 1974.”Around 129 such properties were disposed of between 1974 and 2014,” he said. It was at the board meeting held on July 28, 2015, headed by the then chairman Chadalawada Krishnamurthy that resolution No.84 was passed to form a sub-committee to study the prospects of auctioning such properties. The meeting on January 30, 2016, gave the nod to the sub-committee’s proposal to dispose of 50 such properties that ranged between one cent and five cents. tucked away from the mainland and thus difficult to monitor and maintain. “This board only continued the process. The State government has nothing to do with the TTD’s decision,” Subba Reddy said.

“We have only set up committees to draw a roadmap on which assets to be auctioned, the upset price and other issues. The assets are mostly in Vellore, Kanchipuram, Tirutani and other far -off locations in Tamil Nadu. The agricultural lands in these areas do not exceed more than one acre or two acres, while house sites are in the range of 1 cent, 2 cent, 3 cents or maximum 5 cents. It is difficult to protect these properties. There is a possibility of encroachment. In such a scenario, the TTD held a meeting to discuss a roadmap on how to protect these properties without hurting the sentiments of the devotees. We have not issued any orders for auctioning the properties.” The TTD chairman said the trust board will again meet to review the whole issue and announce its decision.

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Jagan govt develops cold feet, issues GO halting auction of TTD assets

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Jagan govt develops cold feet, issues GO halting auction of TTD assets

Buckling under pressure from the Opposition parties and Hindu religious leaders, the Andhra Pradesh government isued a GO to stop the auction of TTD assets. The significant decision was taken on late Monday.

The Andhra Pradesh government issued a GO (Number 888) in this regard. The fresh GO nullifies the earlier GO issued on January 30, 2016 to dispose of 50 TTD properties. Further, the government had asked the TTD to stop any move to auction the temple assets in Tamil Nadu or in other parts of the country. Additionally, the Jagan government had asked TTD to consult Hindu religious leaders and Hindu devotees in matters related to Tirumala. The state government also directed the TTD to review its decision taking into consideration the sentiments of crores of Hindu devotees.

“Keeping in view the sentiments of devotees, the government hereby direct TTD to reexamine the issue in consultation with different stakeholders like religious elders, opinion makers, section of devotees etc. to ascertain whether these properties can be used by TTD for construction of temples, dharma pracharam and other religious activities,” the GO noted.

“Till the finalization of the matter stated above, the proposed disposal of 50 properties by TTD is hereby kept in abeyance,” the GO noted. The executive officer, TTD, was asked to submit a compliance report immediately.

The issue has snowballed into a major controversy with the central BJP leadership visibly miffed with the TTD’s move to auction the temple assets in Tamil Nadu. A day after the TTD took the decision to sell the temple assets, Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha, who is also a special invitee to the TTD Trust Board, dashed off a letter to Y V Subba Reddy asking the TTD to not to go ahead with the sale of temple assets in Tamil Nadu. In the letter, Rakesh Sinha said the sale of assets will hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindu devotees across the world.

Y V Subba Reddy on Sunday tweeted to Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha. “TTD, since 1974, has been monetizing lands which are hard to manage and splintered across the country. TTD monetizes lands only when there is no possibility of making them spiritually viable and manageable for the organization. These lands are of small sizes like 4 to 10 cents where no development is possible. This is NOT an AP Govt. decision. Successive TTD trust board’s in the past have established the procedures to monetize unviable lands. The present trust board is only following the established norms of previous trust boards without any deviations. Eventually we want to safeguard the donor devotees generous contributions to the TTD either in the form of land or corpus.”@RakeshSinha01

The Jagan government’s GO comes a day after Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha letter to Y V Subba Reddy.

Earlier in the day, TTD chairman Y V Subba Reddy said the TTD board will take decision on selling temple properties in next board meeting. Turning his guns on Eenadu and ABN channel, Y V Subba Reddy who is Jagan Mohan Reddy’s maternal uncle, said the Opposition parties were politicizing the issue and trying to throw muck at the YSRCP government by making a mole out of mountain hill. On Saturday, the TTD held a meeting and decided to auction the temple assets in Tamil Nadu. On Sunday, Y V Subba Reddy defended the TTD’s decision to sell 50 immovable properties through public auction saying it was well within the board’s purview.

In a complete U-turn, Y V Subba Reddy who held a press briefing on Monday said, “The government will do everything to protect the temple properties and will always work in the service of God. The TTD meeting was held on Saturday to discuss on how to protect these properties. The YSRCP government sees no reason why the temple assets should be auctioned.”

Subba Reddy said the practice of selling immovable and non-maintainable properties has been in vogue since 1974.”Around 129 such properties were disposed of between 1974 and 2014,” he said. It was at the board meeting held on July 28, 2015, headed by the then chairman Chadalawada Krishnamurthy that resolution No.84 was passed to form a sub-committee to study the prospects of auctioning such properties. The meeting on January 30, 2016, gave the nod to the sub-committee’s proposal to dispose of 50 such properties that ranged between one cent and five cents. tucked away from the mainland and thus difficult to monitor and maintain. “This board only continued the process. The State government has nothing to do with the TTD’s decision,” Subba Reddy said.

“We have only set up committees to draw a roadmap on which assets to be auctioned, the upset price and other issues. The assets are mostly in Vellore, Kanchipuram, Tirutani and other far -off locations in Tamil Nadu. The agricultural lands in these areas do not exceed more than one acre or two acres, while other assets are in the range of 1 cent, 2 cent, 3 cents or maximum 5 cents of land. It is difficult to protect these properties. There is a possibility of encroachment. In such a scenario, the TTD held a meeting to discuss a roadmap on how to protect these properties without hurting the sentiments of the devotees. We have not issued any orders for auctioning the properties. We will not do anything that would hurt the sentiments of the devotees. The TTD chairman said the trust board will again meet to review the whole issue and announce its decision.

The TTD’s move to auction has sparked off a political row. The sentiments of Hindu devotees were deeply hurt by the decision. BJP president Kanna Lakshminarayana said his party cadres would organise protests across the State on May 26 against the government’s attempts to sell the properties of temples, including those of TTD. Lakshminarayana said it was highly objectionable to sell the properties of temples for whatever reason. BJP Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha on Monday demanded that the government stop attempts to sell temple assets and desist from hurting the sentiments of Hindu devotees.

On Monday, Bandi Sanjay Kumar took to his Twitter handle to take on both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments. He said the Jagan government was trying to turn Andhra Pradesh into the fiefdom of Christianity while the KCR government was turning Telangana into Muslim kingdom. “We will protect Hindu temples from these rulers and dig the political grave of these political parties,” Bandi Sanjay tweeted

Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan on Monday decried the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) move to sell Srivari properties and demanded that the Jagan sarkar withdraw its decision immediately. He said the movable and immovable assets were donated by devotees in South and North India to Lord Venkateswara and that the TTD has only insulted and hurt the sentiments of the devotees who donated the properties by calling the assets as non-remunerative.

“Devotees have donated house sites, agricultural lands and buildings. The TTD has insulted the devotees by calling these assets as non-remunerative. The devotees donated the properties for Hindu religious purposes and to ensure service to the Lord, and not to the State government to sell the assets. The properties donated by the devotees should serve the devotees and pilgrims coming to the Lord’s abode. The TTD’s argument that it cannot protect properties located at far-off places and that they are non-remunerative, and hence the decision to sell them, does not go well with the Hindu devotees. I fail to understand why the TTD, which has a ‘Estate wing, has decided to auction the assets. There is no dearth of funds to run the affairs of the temple administration. The interest earned on the temple deposits is enough to run the temple administration,” Pawan Kalyan tweeted.

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Pawan Kalyan demands Jagan sarkar to desist from auctioning Srivari assets

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Pawan Kalyan demands Jagan sarkar to desist from auctioning Srivari assets

Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan on Monday decried the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) move to sell Srivari properties and demanded that the Jagan sarkar withdraw its decision immediately.

Demanding immediate halt to the auction of Srivari assets in Tamil Nadu, Pawan Kalyan said the movable and immovable assets were donated by devotees in South and North India to Lord Venkateswara. The Jana Sena Party president said the TTD has insulted and hurt the sentiments of the devotees who donated the properties by calling the assets as non-remunerative.

“Devotees have donated house sites, agricultural lands and buildings. The TTD has insulted the devotees by calling these assets as non-remunerative. The devotees donated the properties for Hindu religious purposes and to ensure service to the Lord, and not to the State government to sell the assets. The properties donated by the devotees should serve the devotees and pilgrims coming to the Lord’s abode,” Pawan Kalyan tweeted.

Pawan Kalyan said that the TTD and the State government should act as protectors of money and properties donated by the devotees and do not have the right to sell them. “There are several ashrams and peethams to which devotees have donated vast assets. These properties are being effectively managed by the ashrams and peethams. The TTD’s argument that it cannot protect properties located at far-off places and that they are non-remunerative, and hence the decision to sell them, does not go well with the Hindu devotees. I fail to understand why the TTD, which has a ‘Estate wing, has decided to auction the assets. There is no dearth of funds to run the affairs of the temple administration. The interest earned on the temple deposits is enough to run the temple administration.”

“All Hindu Religious Institutions and Organizations look upto TTD. As the largest and one of the richest religious institutions of the world, TTD must set a good example and best practices for others to follow,” Pawan Kalyan tweeted.

On Saturday, the TTD decided to auction 50 TTD properties in Tamil Nadu. On Sunday, TTD trust board chairman and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s maternal uncle Y V Subba Reddy on Sunday said defended the TTD’s decision to sell 50 immovable properties through public auction saying it was well within the board’s purview.

“If TTD sells away land, this shall set a bad precedent and even other Hindu Religious institutions might imitate it. This shall also hurt the sentiments and beliefs of millions of devotees. Andhra Pradesh has suffered and is still suffering a lot post bifurcation; the state still does not have a full fledged capital city; the economy of the state is very weak and fragile. AP needs investors to create jobs and revive the economy; one of the major resources for any government is land. Land can attract investors, land can be used to create value, land can generate revenue and hence the government must try all possible ways to protect and secure government properties, especially land. Hurting the devotee’s sentiment and belief and risking the economic opportunities for the state in the future, it would be a grave mistake if the YCP led state government lets TTD sell off the lands in the prevailing circumstances,” Pawan Kalyan noted.

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IYR targets CM Jagan on TTD property sale and Srivari laddus

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IYR targets CM Jagan on TTD property sale and Srivari laddus

Former Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao is holding Chief Minister’s Office responsible for the latest anti-devotee policies being taken by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. He says the CMO is literally running whole affairs of the TTD and the board has no scope for functioning independently under the present government. How can the TTD properties be put up for sale at a time when real estate values are at an all-time low all over the country due to Coronavirus lockdowns? The TTD should understand that its previous boards have accepted donations of properties on the mutual agreement that they will be used for the benefit of the Balaji devotees.

IYR has also found fault with the sale of Srivari laddus in the open market. It does not go well with the tradition that was there behind sale of laddus at the Seven Hills temple. The government should stop this along with sale of properties. It is also the duty of the government to protect and preserve Hindu Dharma.

IYR expressed concern that the temples are becoming political rehabilitation centres rather than places of worship and devotion. The same party which has opposed sale of TTD properties in the past has now begun doing this without bothering about devotees.

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TTD decides to auction 23 Srivari assets in TN; Kanna sees red, Jana Sena to fight legal battle

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TTD decides to auction 23 Srivari assets in TN; Kanna sees red, Jana Sena to fight legal battle

In a move that is likely to land in a legal wrangle, the Jagan government on Saturday decided to auction TTD assets. A decision to this effect was taken at a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) meeting on Saturday.

The state government has decided to take over and auction 23 Srivari assets of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam across Tamil Nadu, mainly in Vellore, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram. The TTD has set up eight committees. At the meeting, the TTD has decided to liquidate assets like land parcels and buildings donated by devotees to Lord Venkateswara to tide over the financial crisis and help provide salaries of its about 22,000 Tirumala staff members. The TTD has entrusted the registration of temple properties to the TTD officials, a move severely criticized by the state BJP, Congress and Jana Sena leaders.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has land and other assets not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Haryana and Odisha. The worth of TTD properties would be over thousands of crores.

Y V Subbareddy, TTD board chairman and maternal uncle of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, in the past attributed the auction of temple lands to paucity of funds. The board has already announced that they don’t have enough funds to pay the employees salary from June. It has also said that that temple board has no other go except for relying on the fixed deposits and sale of temple wealth for maintenance expenses.

BJP State president Kanna Laxminarayana on Saturday demanded that the TTD drop the idea of auction of TTD assets as it would severely hurt the religious sentiments of millions of devotees. Questioning the propriety behind the TTD move, he said the onus of protecting the temple properities rested on the shoulders of the state government. The TTD would have to face a public agitation if it went ahead with the move to sell temple assets, he said. “The government is playing with the sentiments of Hindu devotees and trying to undermine Hindu religion. We will not keep silent if the TTD assets are auctioned,” Kanna warned.

The Jana Sena leaders came down heavily on the state government saying the motive behind the move was to usurp the temple properties by the YSRCP leaders and their family members. The Jana Sena leaders said they will move the court to challenge the government’s decision to auction temple assets saying the Jagan government’s decision will hurt the sentiments of crores of devotees. The Opposition leaders demanded that the TTD should immediately stop its move to take over and auction the temple properties.

AP Mahila Congress leader Padmavathi said the TTD’s move is an insult to the devotees who donated the lands to Lord Venkateswara and that the TTD officials have miserably failed to protect the properties of Lord Venkateswara.

Former Congress Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan had recently asked the central government to appropriate all the gold lying with all religious trusts in India. According to Chavan, the gold worth $1 trillion could be borrowed at a low-interest rate and utilised in the ongoing “emergency” Covid-19 situation. “Government must immediately appropriate all the gold lying with all the religious trusts in the country, worth at least $1trillion, according to the World Gold Council. The gold can be borrowed through gold bonds at a low-interest rate. This is an emergency,” he recently tweeted sparking a row.

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No question of touching gold, cash deposits, asserts TTD Chairman

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No question of touching gold, cash deposits, asserts TTD Chairman

Closed for darshan for nearly two months due to coronavirus lockdown, the revenues of Sri Venkateswara temple at Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala have hit the rock bottom but the body which runs the affairs of the world’s richest temple said it has the reserves to pay salaries to its employees for May.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Chairman Y. S. Subba Reddy told IANS that despite the crisis, it has the reserves to pay salaries for the month of May. He is also confident of mobilising resources to pay salaries and take care of other expenses for maintenance of the temple for the next month, if required.

He, however, ruled out drawing money from the fixed deposits or gold deposits in the bank.

“That will not happen. Our Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has given instructions that we should not touch deposits because it is a sentimental issue. Gold and fixed deposits are given by devotees from all the country. That is sentimental. Only Hundi and other collections have to go to corpus,” he said.

Balaji temple, as the hill shrine is also popularly known, is reported to have nine tonnes of gold reserve and Rs 14,000 crore fixed deposits in various banks.

“Drawing from deposits does not arise. Still, we don’t know what will happen in future. We will see to it that it does not happen and we continue all customs and procedures perfectly,” said Subba Reddy, who is also the maternal uncle of the Chief Minister.

The temple was closed for devotees on March 19, much before the announcement of lockdown. The TTD is losing almost Rs 200 crore revenue every month due to the closure.

“We get the revenue through Hundi, Arjita Sevas, auction of hair, room rents and other sources. Room rent, hair and others operate on a cost to cost basis and the main revenue is thorough Hundi,” he said.

The temple earns Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,200 crore from ‘Hundi’ collections or offerings by devotees every year.

“We are passing through difficult times not just we but the entire country and the whole world through the crisis due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In these times we were forced to close darshan for devotees but the temple maintenance, pooja programmes are continuing in accordance with the temple procedure and systems. We have to maintain temples, conduct poojas, organise festivals as per the programme. Whether there is work or no work, you have to pay salaries to the employees. We have already managed for two months.”

TTD spends Rs 125 crore every month towards payment of salaries, maintenance of temples and security.

“We paid salaries for March and April. We have some reserves kept ready for paying salaries for May. For June, we will have to raise some other sources. I am confident we will work out some formula and mobilize,” he said.

“I don’t know. As of now I can’t say. I hope the Lord will not allow the situation to come to that stage,” the TTD chairman said when asked if he would look for support from the state government.

The hill shrine attracts 50,000 to one lakh pilgrims every day. The number on special occasions like the annual Brahmotsavam and festivals goes up to 4-5 lakh.

The devotees make offerings in the form of cash, gold and silver jewellery, property deeds and even demat shares.

For 2020-2021, TTD had presented a Rs 3,310 crore budget with the cash offerings by devotees projected at Rs 1,351 crore.

The temple trust expects Rs 706 crore interest on deposits in nationalised and private banks, Rs 302 crore from the sale of tickets for various forms of worship and Rs 400 crore from laddu ‘prasadam’.

The earnings from the auction on human hair to be offered by millions of devotees as fulfillment of their vow were likely to be Rs 106 crore.

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Tirumala Balaji temple closed under corona threat

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Tirumala Balaji temple closed under corona threat

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has already closed down the Alipiri Gate in Tirupati and banned entry to all new pilgrims there. Rumours are doing rounds that the TTD has already decided to close Balaji Temple atop Tirumala hills. This is in tune with the Central government advisories to restrict all social gatherings. The massive crowds and rush in Temple queue lines also pose a risk. For the past few days, arrival of devotees has greatly come down.

Since yesterday, the AP government has begun taking anti-virus precautions after the SC order upheld postponement of local body elections. Schools are closed. Now, the endowments department began preventive measures. Annavaram Temple is also being restricted.

Latest reports say that by Friday midday, Tirumala temple will be completely closed down. The pilgrims who are already present atop the hills are being evacuated and they are asked to return home.

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TTD measures to prevent corona virus

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TTD measures to prevent corona virus

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has decided to removing waiting of crowds in queues and compartments for Darshan. Lakhs of people visit the temple every day. But now, the corona virus is threatening to spread from any corner. Already, a positive case has raised big concerns in Nellore town limits. Many states and institutions are taking immediate voluntary steps for safety precautions.

TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal has come out with these preventive measures. The mass gathering problem is indeed big in Tirumala temple. Moreover, devotees come from all over the world. Screening of the devotees is also not possible because of the lack of enough medical infrastructure there.

Because of these limitations, the TTD decided to give time slots to devotees. Also, the devotees will not be allowed to go in crowds at one time to had Darshan. There are reports the arrival of devotees has also come down a bit because of the virus scare. Because of the epidemic steady spread in different parts of India, institutions like TTD are becoming alert. For safety sake, the TTD has already cancelled Sitaramula Kalyanam in Vontimitta Ramalayam.

Meanwhile, TDP is asking the State Election Commission to suspend the elections temporarily and restart the same after virus scare is over.

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Harish Rao ignored by YSRCP leaders and TTD officials!

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Harish Rao ignored by YSRCP leaders and TTD officials!

TRS senior leader and Telangana finance minister T Harish Rao’s position seems to be turning from bad to worse.

TRS party chief and Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao has sidelined Harish Rao both in the TRS and also in the TRS government, while he is promoting his son KTR both in the party and the government. Speculations are rife that KTR will be made as CM anytime in 2020.

On Monday, Harish got yet another shocker in Andhra Pradesh, as he was ignored by both YSRCP leaders and also TTD officials.

Harish was in Tirumala to have darshan of Lord Venkateshwara on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi on Monday.

However, Harish was shocked to find that there was no one to receive him at the temple.

On the other hand, KCR’s son KT Rama Rao was accorded a grand welcome at Tirumala.

YSRCP leaders and TTD officials queued up at the temple to welcome KTR at Tirumala right from his arrival at the Renigunta airport on Sunday evening till he had darshan of the Lord during VIP break darshan on Monday. KTR was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter.

YSRCP MP PV Midhun Reddy, MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, a host of local YSRCP leaders and TTD officials accorded him a grand welcome at the airport and also at the temple. They accompanied KTR’s family in the temple.

Harish too is entitled for protocol at Tirumala temple as a minister from Telangana State. But no one bothered to follow the protocol. Harish had to wait for longer time at the temple as neither anyone received him nor made any arrangements for his darshan of the Lord.

Though Harish tried to reach out to TTD officials, there was no response. At one point, Harish reportedly got angry and decided to return Hyderabad without having darshan.

However, the timely involvement of TTD board member from Telangana, Damodar Rao has saved the day for Harish. Damodar Rao made arrangements for Harish and ensured Harish got VIP break darshan along with other VIPs.

An angry Harish returned to Hyderabad immediately after darshan as he was not keen on staying in Tirumala any longer.

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TTD another row on ‘Vaikuntha Dwara Darsanam’

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TTD another row on ‘Vaikuntha Dwara Darsanam’

Ex Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam actively and innocently supported CM Jagan Reddy in every step without realising what would happen to him later. Similarly, TTD Agama Advisor Ramana Deekshitulu is crossing all limits to support any proposals brought by YCP sympathisers. In just a few days, Deekshitulu gave his second approval for changing long-established traditions in the Seven Hills Temple.

The latest controversy is that the TTD is going ahead to extend Vaikuntha Dwara Darsanam to devotees from two days to 10 days. Without losing any time, Ramana Deekshitulu has waved green flag for this saying that this extension will not go against the Agama Shastra. But, the traditionalists say that Vaikuntha Dwara Darsanam will be like ordinary darsan only if it is done on days other than the fixed two days every year.

Devotees are accusing TTD of breaking the long-cherished traditions for the sake of taking commercial advantages out of religious beliefs. Ramana Deekshitulu is facing criticism from priests for supporting these ungodly activities. No doubt, Deekshitulu will one day regret his actions just like LV Subrahmanyam.

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Jagan Circar’s GO 2323 causing tremors in TTD

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Jagan Circar’s GO 2323 causing tremors in TTD

The Jaganmohan Reddy government turned its focus on Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam for weeding out the staff appointed during the previous Chandrababu Regime. It issued GO 2323 removing all those who retired before March 31 this year but continuing as contract or outsourcing staff in TTD. Because of this GO, ‘Dollar’ Seshadri is also expected to lose his job. He retired as a superintendent 10 years ago.

Reports say that Jagan Circar has targetted nearly 60 staff in TTD under this GO. Instructions are given to terminate their services by today evening.

Following the latest development, TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal is taking extra care to implement the order effectively. He has directed the heads of all wings in the TTD to immediately submit full details of the outsourced and contract staff under them.

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Blow to Amaravati: TTD Reddy reverse decision

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Blow to Amaravati: TTD Reddy reverse decision

CM Jagan’s reverse rule has become inspiration for everyone down the line in the present government. CM Uncle and TTD Chairman SV Subba Reddy has also started reversing the decisions of the previous Chandrababu Naidu Government regardless of their importance. During Naidu Regime, the then TTD Board took a decision to provide Rs 150 Cr to construct Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Amaravati Capital City area.

The situation has changed now after Jagan came to power. YCP Boss has a clear agenda to kill Amaravati global city project without second thoughts. He has already given ample indications of how his government will perform a silent burial to the Andhra Capital. When Jagan has such an agenda, would the new TTD Board give Rs 150 Cr for Amaravati Balaji temple?

Consequently, Subba Reddy cut down the budget and announced that only Rs 38 Cr would be provided to the Amaravati temple project. Critics say that it’s doubtful whether Chairman Reddy would release even these funds.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Tirumala temple’s non-Hindu employees must quit: Jagan govt

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Tirumala temple’s non-Hindu employees must quit: Jagan govt

The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered that the employees of the Tirumala temple who converted to non-Hindu religions should quit as they can’t continue in their posts.

Authorities were directed to check the antecedents of all the employees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the world’s richest Hindu temple atop Tirumala.

Chief Secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam, during his visit to the temple early this week, said if necessary surprise checks would also be conducted at the houses of the employees to ensure that they are not practising non-Hindu religions.

“There are employees have converted to other religions. It’s their choice. Nobody can stop them from doing so but they can’t continue in their jobs in the TTD. Nobody should hurt the religious sentiments of others,” he said.

Subrahmanyam said while every individual was free to follow and practice the religion of his choice, no non-Hindu can continue to serve in the TTD.

“Such people should come out and speak with courage and leave,” he added.

There are an estimated 48 non-Hindu employees in TTD and they came under scanner amid concerns being expressed in some quarters over increasing proselytization in Tirumala.

Last year after a video of a TTD official praying at a Church had gone viral, the higher-ups had removed some non-Hindu employees.

The Chief Secretary also assured measures to strictly implement orders issued in the past banning propagation of other religions in Tirumala.

The latest move by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government comes amid controversies and mounting criticism by the opposition, especially Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which dubbed him “anti-Hindu”.

Advertisements for Jerusalem yatra and Haj pilgrimage on bus tickets in the temple town of Tirupati had sparked a row last week.

The advertisements were found on back of tickets of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). The government ordered a probe and promised to take action against the officials for their lapse.

BJP national Secretary Sunil Deodhar, who is also co-incharge of party affairs in the state, termed the advertisement of Jerusalem yatra as “unnecessary, unacceptable, communal and insult to Lord Balaji”.

The BJP had also targeted Jagan Reddy for allegedly not lighting a lamp at a ceremony during his recent visit to the US.

Some BJP leaders alleged that Jagan Reddy, a Christian, visited Hindu temples during elections only to garner votes.

However, leaders of the YSR Congress Party clarified that safety rules in the US do not permit lighting of traditional oil and wick lamps especially in auditoriums. They claimed that there was an electric lamp at the event attended by the Chief Minister.

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Gold, silver ornaments missing from TTD treasury

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Gold, silver ornaments missing from TTD treasury

Some gold and silver ornaments allegedly went missing from the treasury of the Tirumala temple, which led to the temple authorities so far recovering Rs 2.25 lakh from an official held responsible for the loss.

A five-kg silver crown and two gold items were reported to have gone missing from the treasury of the temple about two years ago but the incident came to light on Tuesday after a section of TTD employees took exception to only one official being held responsible for the incident.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the world’s richest Hindu temple, meanwhile, assured devotees that their contributions are safe.

TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal said all precautions and vigilant steps were taken by the TTD in the preservation of devotees’ contributions of gold and silver ornaments and others with proper documentation in the treasury.

He denied reports of laxity and carelessness in preserving the devotees’ contributions and said stringent action was taken against erring officials, if any.

He said all the devotees’ contributions were safely and systematically brought to the treasury of TTD administrative building where an Assistant Executive Officer rank official records them and keep the ornaments in lockers. “In the event of a transfer of the officials, there would be a total inspection of all items in the presence of outgoing, and incoming officials in the presence of Vigilance, the Deputy Executive Officer concerned and accounts officials,” he said.

AEO M. Srinivasulu had personally reported some shortages of ornaments worth totalling of Rs 7,36,375 as per certification of October 10, 2017, and also some additions. Among the excess items were some gold and silver ornaments, precious stones, and gold plated jewels.

The EO said after investigations, Srinivasulu was held responsible for the shortfall in the ornaments and at the rate of Rs 25,000 per month, an amount of Rs 2.25 lakh has so far been recovered from him.

He said on the appeal of the said AEO, the TTD has agreed to undertake certification once again in September next when the shortages could become more transparent.

The EO said in the event if the alleged shortlisted items were not found, the TTD would take action for the full recovery of the total amount and also initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings as well against Srinivasulu.

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Andhra official quits TTD panel over parallel probe

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Andhra official quits TTD panel over parallel probe

Unhappy over a parallel inquiry ordered into the alleged misappropriation of Rs 4 crore at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s Sri Venkateswara temple in New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Resident Commissioner Praveen Prakash has resigned as Chairman of the TTD Local Advisory Committee (LAC).

Praveen Prakash on Saturday sent his resignation to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the world’s richest Hindu temple at Tirumala in Tirupati.

His move came after the Andhra Pradesh government ordered probe by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department into alleged financial irregularities by TTD staff posted in New Delhi.

The fresh probe was ordered even as Prakash, an IAS officer, was conducting an inquiry on the direction of the TTD following a petition by an anonymous person alleging the scam.

The letter, believed to be written by a newly-appointed TTD staff member in Delhi, claimed malpractices by some temple staff and the LAC.

The complainant, in his letter last month, alleged that the staff was siphoning off Rs 5 lakh every month. He also claimed that the annual expenditure of the TTD in the national capital rose to Rs 7 crore from Rs 1.4 crore earlier.

The staff had allegedly diverted funds under ‘Anna Prasadam’ (free meals for devotees) and were also collecting money from priests, he alleged

The allegations caused a furore and following advice by TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy and government advisor Ajeya Kallam, another probe by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department was ordered.

Kallam had reportedly visited the temple on Friday to get first-hand information about the happenings.

Prakash, who had ordered inquiry by the legal officer on August 14, took exception to the manner in which parallel probe was ordered and an official of Vigilance and Enforcement Department took away records. He said this indicate lack of confidence in the office of LAC Chairman.

He sent his resignation to TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal.

LAC manages the S.V Temple, the TTD Information Centre in New Delhi and some temples in Kurukshetra and Rishikesha on behalf of the TTD.

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TTD Chairman Yadav resigns, to be replaced by a Reddy

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TTD Chairman Yadav resigns, to be replaced by a Reddy

Putta Sudhakar Yadav, Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, resigned from the post after a prolonged wait. About 10 out of the total 16 TTD members have already resigned. But Sudhakar Yadav stayed on saying he would wait for the government decision. There has been talk that the YCP government will bring in an ordinance to replace Yadav, who belongs to BC community.

It is decided already that new TTD Chairman would be former MP YV Subba Reddy, who is a close relative of CM Jaganmohan Reddy. There have been doubts raised over the social engineering claims of Jagan as a very important post of TTD Chairman is being given to a Reddy while the previous TDP government chose a BC candidate.
During the recent visit of Telangana CM KCR to Amaravati, no importance was given to weaker sections leaders or ministers. Only minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, YV Subba Reddy were present along with Jagan during talks with KCR. Now the TTD episode of replacing a BC with a Reddy is putting a lot of question marks on the social justice claims of Jagan and his team. In the recent Assembly also, YCP MLAs one after another claimed how Jagan gave top priority to SC, ST, BC and Minorities.

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