ELURU:The Dwaraka Tirumala Devasthanam seems to have got mired in ‘protocol’ controversy, as the temple employees went on mass leave on Thursday demanding revocation of the suspension orders of five endowments officials. As a result, the activities at the temple came to a standstill, putting the devotees to severe inconvenience.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently inaugurated the VIRRD Hospital at Lakshmipuram in Dwaraka Tirumala mandal. Prior to the programme, endowments minister P Manikyala Rao and ZP chairman M Bapiraju inspected the venue and found that the name of Bapiraju was not mentioned on the inaugural plaque. Upset with this, Bapiraju reportedly abused devasthanam executive officer V Trinadha Rao. Following this, over 200 temple employees staged a dharna on the devasthanam premises by wearing black badges on September 9, demanding apology from the ZP chairman. But, the latter didn’t budge.
Meanwhile, at a meeting between Bapiraju and Dwaraka Tirumala Trust Board chairman SV Sudhakara Rao, it was decided that action be taken against the agitating staff. As per the orders of Trust Board chairman, EO Trinadha Rao suspended AEO M Durga Rao, electrical AE T Suryanarayana, superintendent V Nagesh, EO (Camp Clerk) A Srinvasa Rao and EO driver V Srinivasa Rao on Thursday.
Up on learning about this, the temple employees went on mass leave demanding immediate withdrawal of the suspension orders