VIJAYAWADA: In an interview to a news agency on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said he was not blaming former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the Tirupati Laddu adulteration. Stating that it was under the supervision of Jagan that the alleged irregularities had occurred, the Jana Sena Party chief said, “Jagan should allow the system under the new NDA government to take its own course in punishing the culprits.”
The Deputy CM’s remarks come in the wake of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu claiming that the previous YSRC government used substandard ingredients and animal fats for making the Srivari Laddus. “Being an ex-chief minister, he (Jagan) could have just said go ahead, whoever the perpetrators or culprits are, let them get punished.
If he is very clean in his heart, there is no need to do all this drama. That’s what I feel,” Kalyan told the news agency at the JSP office in Mangalagiri.
PK blames TTD Board set up by Jagan for lapses
The actor-politician noted that the alleged irregularities had occurred under the watch of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board constituted by Jagan.
It may be pointed out that Pawan has embarked on an 11-day ‘Prayaschitta Deeksha’ as penance starting Sunday. After undertaking the Deekasha at Sri Dasavatara Venkateswara Swamy temple in Namburu of Guntur district, he had condemned the YSRC government for its mismanagement of Tirumala temple, highlighting changes made under the guise of reforms, such as changes in worship practices.
Pawan also lashed out at the administration of TTD under the YSRC regime for sending thousands of adulterated Laddus to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, calling it a vile desecration.
Deputy CM calls for review of TTD assets
Earlier in the day, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed that it was the responsibility of the TDP-led NDA government to safeguard the assets of the TTD. Emphasising that devotees have donated the assets to Lord Venkateswara out of deep faith, he accused the previous TTD Board, appointed by the YSRC, of attempting to sell some of these properties, branding them as “non-performing assets.” He emphasised the need for a thorough review of not only TTD’s assets, but also the properties under the jurisdiction of the Endowments Department across the State. He called for transparency in the management of temple assets to ensure public trust and accountability.
Further, Pawan called on the Chief Minister to initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the decisions made by past TTD boards, including the controversial sale of 23 properties in Tamil Nadu valued at `23.92 crore, with an aim to raise Rs 100 crore in revenue. Besides Andhra Pradesh, he also raised concerns over the management of valuable properties across various States, including Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
He further questioned the transparency of funds generated through the SRIVANI Trust, which collected Rs 10,500 from each devotee, but only issued a receipt for Rs 500. He demanded a comprehensive inquiry into how the funds were used and whether temples were constructed across the country as promised.
With inputs from PTI