Passes for VIPs, cases for devotees in TTD

Tirumala, On Thursday, BJP slammed the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam for registering cases against their devotees on Vaikunta Ekadashi.

According to reports, BJP leaders met the Superintendent of Police to complain about the high handed behaviour meted out by the TTD officials to their devotees. BJP also registered complaints against TTD Chairman Kanumuri Bapi Raju, and other officials. 

As per reports, on the occasion of Ekadashi, when the temple gets massive crowds, the officials gave priority to the VIPs. Many VIPs, which included  Ministers, MLAs, and others were given importance at the expense of common devotees. 

The TTD issued almost 9,000 VVIP passes on that day and approximately 145 passes were distributed among the TTD governing authorities. 

Similarly, Congress senior leader V Hanumanta Rao also alleged that the officials gave a red carpet welcome to CM Kiran Kumar Reddy's brother, and he was the first person to get 'Darshan'. 

People who came for darshan lost their patience as they were made to stand in the queue for close to 12 hours. In an attempt to show their anger at the ill treatment, the devotees protested at TTD chairman's office. Instead of taking the devotees complaints seriously, one of the officials, AVSNO Govind Reddy lodged a complaint against them. He added that protests are banned in Tirumala.

IPC section 341 was registered against devotees, alleging they were stopping officers from performing their duties and also stopping the movement of vehicles. Police identified devotees through CCTV footage, TTD vigilance videos and photographs.
-Sakshipost