Tirupathi Balaji Temple (Left) and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu (Right)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on June 13 hit out at the former YSRCP Government for commercialising the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam during his visit to the temple after taking oath on June 12.
“They have commercialised the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam). Once you’re on hill top, you should feel pure, prasadam should be neat, and rates shouldn’t be increased. Darshan tickets shouldn’t be sold in the black market,” Chandrababu Naidu said speaking to reporters on June 13.
Accusing the former Government of turning the holy place into a centre for marijuana, liquor and non-vegetarian food, Chandrababu Naidu said, “They have turned this place to worst, they have made it a center for marijuana, liquor and non-veg.”
He said basic cleanliness and hygiene are lacking in Tirumala and also in the preparation of prasadams. “The TTD needs to be cleansed, and we will do it,” he asserted.
Chandrababu Naidu said the world’s renowned religious place, Tirumala, had been turned into a hub of ganja, liquor and the promotion of other religions in the last five years.
The safety conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that cheetahs have killed children attempting to climb the hill. Under the Jagan Government, daily changes in rules have compounded the plight of pilgrims, transforming their lives into a harrowing experience.
The Chief Minister also questioned the Jagan Mohan Reddy Government for allocating posts as per his wishes and influencing court cases. “Will you sell Venkateshwara Swamy for your benefit? You give posts as per your wishes! You give posts to influence your court cases!” Naidu said.
The Chief Minister, along with his family, offered prayers at Tirupati Balaji temple in Tirumala on June 13. CM Chandrababu Naidu reached Tirumala on June 12 evening, where he received a warm welcome from the temple authorities.
During the visit, the Chief Minister was accompanied by his wife Nara Bhuvaneshwari, son and state minister Nara Lokesh, Lokesh’s wife Nara Brahmani, and their son Devansh.
Huge numbers of people were pictured outside the Tirumala temple upon the arrival of the Chief Minister.
“By 2047, the Telugu people will be number one in the world. I will make Andhra Pradesh the number one state in the country. Crime will not be tolerated… Some people are making false accusations against us after committing crimes. Political conspiracies will not be tolerated. We will protect the good and punish the bad,” the TDP chief said.
Chandrababu Naidu pledged to work tirelessly for a poverty-free society and to elevate Andhra Pradesh to the status of the number one state in India. He also warned that crimes and corruption would not be tolerated and promised accountability and transparency in governance.
Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the 18th CM of Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at an event in Vijayawada on June 12.
The 24-member cabinet also took the oath of office on June 12 along with the Chief Minister. This includes MLAs of the Telugu Desam Party, Janasena Party and BJP. Andhra Governor S Abdul Nazeer administered the oath of office to ministers.
This is the fourth time that Chandrababu Naidu is assuming charge as Andhra Chief Minister and the second time after the bi-furcation in 2014. Chandrababu Naidu became Chief Minister first in 1995, before the Andhra bifurcation and he led the state until 2004 for nine consecutive years. The TDP supremo returned as the Chief Minister of the bifurcated Andhra in 2014 and served until 2019.
Chandrababu Naidu had led the TDP- BJP-Janasena National Democratic Alliance to a landslide victory in the Assembly as well as parliamentary elections.
TDP holds the majority in Andhra Pradesh’s 175-member assembly with 135 MLAs, while its allies, the Janasena Party, has 21 and BJP has eight. The opposition YSR Congress Party was confined to 11.
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