The last eight months have been eventful in the case of Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy.
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The most revered religious institution in India found itself at the center of a storm for various reasons. Firstly, it was the presence of Beef Tallow in the Ghee used for the preparation of the Sacred Tirumala Laddu during the YSRCP Regime.
The Supreme Court of India appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made some progress on the issue. Some Ghee Suppliers were arrested indicating that there is preliminary evidence that the Laddu Contamination happened during the YSRCP Regime.
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There were allegations that there was embezzlement of the funds (in the last five years) belonging to the SriVani Trust which generates a revenue of around ₹570 crore annually through the sale of darshan tickets.
And then, in January, Six devotees died and nearly 40 more were injured in the stampede in Tirupati on January 8 as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at the Lord. Ugly Politics ensued after that causing distress to the devotees.
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And then very recently, a BJP-recommended TTD Board Member is caught on camera abusing an employee calling him a ‘Third Grade Fellow’. It has put the Temple in the spotlight once again. TTD Employees Unions have protested and the CM had to intervene and force the Board Member to ask for an apology.
The TDP Government has appointed TV5 Chairman BR Naidu as the Chairman of the TTD Board.
Due to the Political Rivalry, the Opposition Party is also trying to shoot BR Naidu and is amplifying every small issue concerning the TTD.
The Presiding Deity, even though commands Crores of Devotees across the globe and 5000 Crore Annual Receipts is not free of controversies. Even the Lord is tired of the controversies, media glare, and unnecessary politics around the shrine.
Amid all this, the good things like improved quality of Anna Prasadam, Laddu Quality, Improved Amenities for the Devotees, efforts to remove the non-Hindus from TTD and others are lost in the clutter.
The devotees are only hoping that things will cool down soon and Tirumala will be free from all this mess.
