New Delhi: Newly appointed chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board, B R Naidu, has said that he intends for all employees working on the temple premises to be Hindus, according to a report from PTI. “Everyone who works at Tirumala should be a Hindu. That would be my first effort. There are many issues in this. We have to look into that,” Naidu said.
He also said plans to consult with the Andhra Pradesh government on handling non-Hindu staff members. Naidu said that he would explore options like offering them a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) or assigning them to other departments.
Ella’s appointment signals leadership diversity
In an administrative shift, the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government formed a new 24-member board on Wednesday to oversee TTD, which manages the renowned Tirumala Tirupati temple. Among the new appointees is Suchitra Ella, co-founder and managing director of Bharat Biotech International Ltd.
Naidu expressed gratitude to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and other NDA leaders in the state for entrusting him with this role. He also criticised the previous government under Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleging various “irregularities” and urging that the “sanctity” of the temple be “preserved.”
Tirupati Laddu controversy
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently alleged that ghee mixed with animal fat was used in preparing the Tirumala temple’s iconic Laddu prasadam during former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, sparking a major controversy. The Supreme Court has since ordered a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the claims.
The SIT, under the CBI Director’s oversight, will include officials from the CBI, Andhra Pradesh police and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In response, Reddy accused Naidu of exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes, saying the court’s intervention revealed Naidu’s “true nature.” Reddy added, “Naidu lacks genuine respect for God, using religion for political gain,” hoping Naidu’s actions wouldn’t impact the people of Andhra Pradesh.
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