Anakapalle MP Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao and Pendurti MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy have taken exception to the manner in which ‘protocol passes’ were issued for the ‘Chandanotsavam’ at Simhachalam on Wednesday.
Alleging ‘misuse’ of protocol passes during the Chandanotsavam on Wednesday, the MLA said a large number of people were given such passes and groups went in just like that. After the Chief Minister, Ministers, higher judiciary and MPs, MLAs and MLCs should get priority followed by officers of All India services in protocol, he said.
The MLA, in whose constituency Simhachalam is located, said he went at the time designated to him at 5 a.m. and had to wait for one-and-a-half hours along with MP Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao and MLC G. Srinivasulu Naidu.
Like every year the utsav committee for overseeing the conduct of the festival was not formed.
That being the case there should have been some screening process for the protocol passes issued, Mr. Satyanaryana Murthy said adding around 2000 protocol passes were given. The Collector, the Joint Collector or higher officials of Endowments should have screened the passes, Mr. Satyanaryana Murthy said.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao said different slots for different levels should have been allotted as in Tirumala.
Besides MLAs and MPs should have been involved for the better conduct of the utsav, the MP said.
Officials had their way and devotees were put to inconvenience.
