Deputy chief minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday started a 11-day deeksha for cleansing Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams, where the prasadam was allegedly adulterated. He started the deeksha at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Nanmburu. On the 11th day, Pawan Kalyan would visit Tirumala and worship Lord Venkateswara.
Speaking on the occasion, Pawan Kalyan came down heavily on former chief minister and YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. He said that temples were desecrated during the YSR Congress regime. A chariot was set on fire and Lord Rama statue was beheaded. Several temples were desecrated during the last five years, he said.
He said that he fought against the desecration of the temples in the state during the YSR Congress regime. He said that the then chief minister had encouraged anti-social elements to attack on the temples. He further alleged that prasadams in several temples were adulterated and the quality was brought down.
He wondered how a government could encourage antisocial elements and hit the religious sentiments of the people. He said that people visit temples with faith and Jagan Mohan Reddy government had no regard for the faith and temples.
Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan also met TTD executive officer J Shyamala Rao at his camp office in Mangalagiri. He enquired about the adulteration of ghee supplied to the temple in Tirumala. The EO told the deputy chief minister that ghee was adulterated and was sent back to the supplier.
The deputy chief minister requested the executive officer to ensure that quality is maintained in the TTD. He also told the officials to ensure religious sentiments of the people are protected at the temple.
