Banning political speeches at the Tirupati temple is part of the several measures initiated by the TTD board headed by chairman BR Naidu to protect the sanctity of the temple.
Published Nov 30, 2024 | 2:44 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 30, 2024 | 2:44 PM
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In a significant decision to preserve the sanctity of the Tirumala shrine, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board (TTD) on Saturday, 30 November, announced a ban on political speeches.
The TTD said that the decision was taken to prevent politicians from vitiating the ambience of the shrine with political statements that foment hatred in society. The imposition of the ban was in pursuance of a decision taken at the recent TTD board meeting to preserve the sanctity of the shrine and protect its spiritual ambience.
In an official release, the TTD said it had observed that some politicians were making political statements after offering prayers to the Lord, aimed at attacking their political rivals. This was disturbing the spiritual ambience of the temple, the TTD said.
Requesting the politicians visiting the temple to refrain from making political statements before media persons, the board asked them to cooperate in upholding the sanctity of the shrine.
The TTD has also warned of action in accordance with law against those who defy the ban and continue indulging in making political statements.
The TTD’s decision has come after the advent of the TDP-led NDA government in the state. In the past, particularly under the YSRCP dispensation, it had become a habit for several politicians to vent spleen at their rivals after darshan and hence the imposition of the ban.
Banning political speeches at the Tirupati temple is part of the several measures initiated by the board headed by chairman BR Naidu to protect the sanctity of the temple. At theboard meeting held recently, it was decided to send all the non-Hindu employees working in the TTD to government departments as their continuance is perceived to be hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus.
The board is also taking enough care to see that there was no scope of any complaint regarding the quality of the ingredients used in making laddus in the wake of the public outcry that rocked the state.
Chandrababu Naidu had alleged that, during the previous YSRCP regime, adulterated ghee containing animal fat was allegedly used while making Tirupati laddu.
The TTD also intends to improve the quality of laddu prasadam besides setting up a state-of-the-art laboratory at the hill shrine, to test the quality of ingredients before they are allowed to be used in making the prasadams.
Already, a CBI-led special investigation team is investigating the complaint about alleged use of animal fat.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
