NEW DELHI: "What has the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam ( TTD ) board done in the past five years? What was once sacred has been desecrated", Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister, Pawan Kalyan said as he embarked on ‘ Prayaschitta Diksha ’ to atone the alleged desecration of Tirumala laddu ' prasadam '.
Pinning the blame on TTD for negligence, the actor-turned politcian questioned the board's inaction to what he alleged as "vandalism of 219 temples" during the previous YSRCP government under Jagan Mohan Reddy.
"We will not tolerate this, and strict action will be taken. Hindu devotees must speak out. What was once sacred has been desecrated. The guilty must face punishment."
The deputy chief minister, who earlier announced that he would be carrying out a penance for 11 day from September 22, said the "time has come to rise beyond "caste and politics" to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter and demanded a white paper report be released on TTD's actions.
"I request the chief minister to investigate. A white paper report should be released on TTD's actions. We must ensure protocols are followed in all temples. The time has come for unity beyond caste and politics," the dy CM said.
"We shouldn't remain silent when Hindu temples are desecrated. If this happened in mosques or churches, the nation would erupt," he added.
Further shifting focus to single out the YSCRP regime, Pawan accused the previous government of altering the TTD board for political reasons and accused it of sending the laddu allegedly made with "foreign elements" to Ayodhya during the holy consecration.
"Prasadam distribution has been ongoing for more than 100 years. But under YSRCP's rule, TTD board was altered for political gain. The Sri Venkateswara Trust was established, leading to various scams. Worship protocols were changed, and over 300 temples were desecrated. I question whether authorities are following protocols in all temples. Fish oil, beef tallow, and pork fat have been found in prasadam. Even Ayodhya received contaminated laddus from TTD during the YSRCP regime," he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Pawan announced that he will undertake an 11-day ‘Prayaschitta Diksha’ from Sep 22 at Sri Dashavatara Venkateswara Swamy temple in Nambur, Guntur district, to atone the alleged desecration of Tirumala laddu prasadam.
He expressed deep distress over the alleged desecration of the prasadam, which he said occurred due to the actions of the previous administrations. “As someone fighting for the welfare of people, it pains me that such a serious issue did not come to my attention earlier. This is a grave injustice to Lord Balaji, and it is the responsibility of all who follow Sanatana Dharma to atone,” he added.
Pinning the blame on TTD for negligence, the actor-turned politcian questioned the board's inaction to what he alleged as "vandalism of 219 temples" during the previous YSRCP government under Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Guntur: Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan says, "As I undertake this 11-day penance ritual, I apologize to Lord Venkateswara. We shouldn't remain silent when Hindu temples are desecrated. If this happened in mosques or churches, the nation would erupt." pic.twitter.com/uVHnsx7L4Y
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2024
"We will not tolerate this, and strict action will be taken. Hindu devotees must speak out. What was once sacred has been desecrated. The guilty must face punishment."
The deputy chief minister, who earlier announced that he would be carrying out a penance for 11 day from September 22, said the "time has come to rise beyond "caste and politics" to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter and demanded a white paper report be released on TTD's actions.
"I request the chief minister to investigate. A white paper report should be released on TTD's actions. We must ensure protocols are followed in all temples. The time has come for unity beyond caste and politics," the dy CM said.
Guntur: Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan says, "The TTD board's actions go beyond ticket distribution; they require cabinet and assembly discussions. I request the Chief Minister to investigate...A white paper report should be released on TTD's actions. We must ensure… pic.twitter.com/gaMj8vT7lY
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2024
"We shouldn't remain silent when Hindu temples are desecrated. If this happened in mosques or churches, the nation would erupt," he added.
Further shifting focus to single out the YSCRP regime, Pawan accused the previous government of altering the TTD board for political reasons and accused it of sending the laddu allegedly made with "foreign elements" to Ayodhya during the holy consecration.
"Prasadam distribution has been ongoing for more than 100 years. But under YSRCP's rule, TTD board was altered for political gain. The Sri Venkateswara Trust was established, leading to various scams. Worship protocols were changed, and over 300 temples were desecrated. I question whether authorities are following protocols in all temples. Fish oil, beef tallow, and pork fat have been found in prasadam. Even Ayodhya received contaminated laddus from TTD during the YSRCP regime," he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Pawan announced that he will undertake an 11-day ‘Prayaschitta Diksha’ from Sep 22 at Sri Dashavatara Venkateswara Swamy temple in Nambur, Guntur district, to atone the alleged desecration of Tirumala laddu prasadam.
He expressed deep distress over the alleged desecration of the prasadam, which he said occurred due to the actions of the previous administrations. “As someone fighting for the welfare of people, it pains me that such a serious issue did not come to my attention earlier. This is a grave injustice to Lord Balaji, and it is the responsibility of all who follow Sanatana Dharma to atone,” he added.
