Naidu vows to restore sanctity of Tirumala temple
TIRUMALA: On his maiden visit to Tirumala after his party's win in the recent Assembly elections, TDP chief and Chief Minister-designate of Residuary AP state N Chandrababu Naidu has said there is need to 'cleanse' the TTD to restore and preserve the sanctity of the Hill Shrine.
Speaking to reporters after having 'darshan' of Lord Venkateswara, Naidu said that the TTD had lost its direction and added that several irregularities had taken place in its administration during the last 10 years.
'As the Opposition leader, I had taken up several agitations, including a protest 'padayatra', to preserve the sanctity of the Tirumala', he recalled.
Naidu also recalled that even the TDP founder late N T Rama Rao had given utmost priority to preserve the sanctity of Tirumala. `I had followed in his footsteps and had initiated several reforms. As pilgrims from all over the globe come here, priority should be given not only be to their health and sanitation but also to preserving the sanctity of the place'', he said and added that his first priority as the CM of the new state would be to ensure adequate facilities to pilgrims and preserve the sanctity of the hill shrine.
'I have plans to keep the sanctity of Tirumala and I will implement them,'' he asserted. The CM-in-waiting said that the Tirumala hills should reverberate with 'Govinda Nama Smarana' and nothing else.
On the recent forest fire on the Seshachalam hill ranges which almost engulfed the hill shrine, Naidu said he was deeply pained by the incident and had even written to Governor ESL Narasimhan to take necessary steps to avert such mishaps in future.
Naidu said he was in the habit of offering prayers at Tirumala before embarking on a new mission and added that as he was going to attend the NDA meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, he had come to Tirumala to offer prayers.
He said he would take the necessary help from the NDA government at the Centre to rebuild Seemandhra. He reiterated that his swearing-in ceremony would be held in the Seemandhra region only and that the venue would be decided soon.
Naidu, accompanied by his wife Bhuvaneswari, son Lokesh and a host of TDP leaders, reached Tirupati by a special flight in the early hours of Monday and arrived at Tirumala by road.
News Posted: 19 May, 2014
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