Scores of people from different walks of life staged a demonstration at the TTD office here on Thursday demanding abolition of ‘VIP culture’ at the Tirumala temple. Soumitri Laxamanachary of TTD Dharmika Parishad, Kapilvai Ravinder of BJP, social activist Vyakaranam Nageswar and others, sporting placards and raising slogans, condemned the attitude of the officials at the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams ignoring the devotees and encouraging VIP culture at the holy shrine.
They accused Executive Officer M.G. Gopal and Chairman K Bapiraju of acting according to their whims and fancies putting the devotees hailing from different parts of the country to hardships. “The officials discriminating against the true devotees will only harm the temple and its glory. None should be allowed to show off their status or position at the feet of Lord Venkateswara and everyone is equal before God,” they said.
The social activists resented the acts of officials turning the place of worship into a commercial establishment. The place should be friendly and should not discourage the ordinary and encouraging the rich.
“The very spirit of God and devotion is lacking at the TTD these days with the too much political interference and with some officials stooping too low for favours and personal benefits,” they said.
