Deekshitulu: Naidu behind digging in Tirumala kitchen

Former head priest of Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, Ramana Deekshitulu’s media meeting here on Wednesday raised few eyebrows as it was organised by Borugadda Anil, the self-proclaimed CEO of an evangelical group “Simons Amrut Foundation”.

Deekshitulu reiterated his charges that the Srivari Potu (Lord’s kitchen) was dug up indiscriminately last year at the behest of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and a woman only known as “Madam”.

The retired head priest, quoting old scriptures and inscriptions, said that a massive wealth was hidden beneath the first “Prakaram” of the temple and the entry was from the kitchen.

“Perhaps that is why the authorities dug up the kitchen floor,” he said.

Deekshitulu demanded that the Centre order a CBI inquiry into the whole episode. “If it does not, I will sit on a fast unto death sometime in July seeking justice.

However, what attracted everyone’s attention is the presence of Anil at the press conference, at a time when the ruling TDP has been charging that a grand conspiracy was hatched by the YSRCP-BJP-Janasena combine to corner Naidu. Anil not only introduced Deekshitulu to Hyderabad media but compered the conference.

In April 2006, Guntur Urban Police arrested Anil for purportedly intimidating a realtor and blackmailing him. Anil, a resident of Nallapadu, was charged with intimidating Suresh after getting involved in a land deal near Tadikonda. He had demanded Rs 1 crore for settling a land dispute, Guntur police said.

Anil was also in police records for misusing the name of state deputy chief minister Chinnarajappa and resorting to extortions.

Meanwhile, the Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Samithi Guntur unit president Darsanapu Srinivas demanded ban on entry of Deekshitulu into Tirumala temple.

“Today the former chief priest has become Father Deekshitulu at the Hyderabad Press Conference,” he said alleging that Christian missionaries are hatching a conspiracy against one of the richest temples of the world.