Naidu to lead TDP stir against TTD administration
After spearheading the agitation over Babhli and other 'illegal' irrigation projects being built by neighbouring Maharashtra on river Godavari, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is now preparing for yet another battle.
This time, his fight will be within Andhra Pradesh, for protecting the temples in general and restoring the sanctity of Tirumala, the world-famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara, in particular.
The former Andhra Chief Minister will reach Tirupati on August 7 and lead a 'dharna' (sit-in demonstration) with over 20,000 TDP workers in front of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administrative office in the town.
After noon the same day, Naidu and a group of senior party leaders will take the pedestrian path from Alipiri, the foot of the hills, to the Tirumala hill shrine where they will worship the Lord seeking to "cleanse" the corrupt TTD administration.
"I will be trekking the Tirumala hills after a long gap of over 35 years. I went up the hills by foot when I was a student," Chandrababu told reporters.
"In the last six years, ever since the Congress came to power under Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the sanctity of the world-famous hill shrine has been totally eroded. The TTD administration is steeped in unprecedented corruption. The religious sentiments of crores of devotees of Lord Venkateswara have been badly hurt by the way the temple affairs are run under the current administration," the TDP chief pointed out.He wants the state government to immediately disband the TTD Trust Board, headed by liquor baron D K Audikesavulu Naidu, and appoint a new apolitical board in its place.
