The controversy over the allegations made by former chief priest A.V. Ramana Deekshitulu against the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the management’s clarification took a political turn with the Opposition and the ruling TDP trading charges on Tuesday.
The BJP demanded that the State government order a high-level inquiry into the charges levelled by Mr. Deekshitulu. The CPI(M) joined the issue, with its State secretary P. Madhu demanding a White Paper on TTD’s affairs and jewellery of the presiding deity.
The YSR Congress Party, which has already extended its support to the priests, accused the TTD board of overstepping its limits, while the TDP saw a conspiracy by the BJP to defame the government.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MLC P.V.N. Madhav said, “The government has turned Tirumala into a political rehabilitation centre and failed to maintain its sanctity.”
Worried over the fallout, the Chief Minister held a review meeting with TTD Chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav, executive officer Ashok Singhal and others.
‘No diamond in jewels’
Mr. Singhal, later speaking to reporters, reiterated that there was no pink diamond in the jewellery as claimed by the former chief priest. “It is a ruby. It was damaged when devotees from Maharashtra threw stones during a procession in Tirumala,” he said.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said he would move the Supreme Court for a CBI probe into the charges against the TTD.
