Chilkur Chief Priest Flays Politicization Of TTD

Convenor of the Temple Protection Committee C S Rangarajan, who is also the chief priest of the Chilkur Balaji temple, commenting on the announcement of the new members to the TTD Trust Board today, said that politicians and businessmen would now boss over devotees in the Board.

He said that the Trust Board's number of members was increased primarily to accommodate more politicians, and that large industrialists and people accused of gambling were appointed as members.

He said that the currnt AP government seemed to be repeating the mistakes of the past governments, which had appointed liquor barons as Chairmen some times.

"We expected transparency, but it seems like we are being let down again. There are many MLAs in the new board, making it a body full of political persons who are being rehabilitated. Extensive politicization and commercialization is destroying Tirumala, which is Kaliyuga Vaikuntham for Hindus. We have been fighting for temple trust boards to remain with devotees. People who handle the temple should know about the rituals and the customs. The traditional donors or patron families understand the importance of the temple and its sanctity. That is why it should not go into outsiders' hands. If a temple is under a government, the employee who oversees it should be a true bhaktha, and the government should ensure transparency and take responsibility for everything that happens. Only then will things fall in place, and transparency be ensured," he said.

"If this government cannot respect the sentiments of crores of Hindus, it must leave Hindu temples and institutions alone just the way it has done in the case of institutions run by minority communities. Such a step would be just to Hindus and exemplify true secularism," he added.