Non-stop political wrangles at TTD

The problem arises because whichever party is in power, it always eyes the income of the TTD. Whichever party is in power, the opposition alleges that the ruling party was violating all rules to benefit few.

In the past during TDP regime, we had seen the controversy pertaining to the removal of chief priest Ramana Deekshutulu and retirement of hereditary priests who had attained the age of 65. The High Court said that they cannot be retired like that and the board resolutions governing other employees cannot be made applicable to the hereditary priests. Now certain recent decisions taken by the TTD board has once again raked up fresh controversies.

TTD is back in news both for certain good things and certain new controversies. On the positive side, post-relaxation of lockdown and permission to open temples, Tirumala is now witnessing an entirely new situation. The usual crowd falling on each other in the queue lines waiting for hours together pushing and rushing towards the deity and the guards inside the temple pushing you out without allowing you to have glimpse of lord even for 35 seconds has become a thing of past.

It reminds one of the olden days when people could visit the temple, stand before the deity and pray for peacefully for couple of minutes. The decision to limit the number of pilgrims and introduction of token system with time slots to the seven hills has resulted in less rush, proper and fast movement of lines and maintenance of social distancing. Even getting laddus has become easy and the Lord also has good time to take rest as the temple closes early.

Another good work done by the TTD is to organise special prayers like rendering of different mantras in the morning for 60 days and now they have taken up rendering of Sundarakanda Parayanam from Valmiki Ramayan to pray for relief from coronavirus. Top scholars, Vedic Pundits and singers from Annamacharya project are participating in this mahayagnam to fight the deadly virus.

But then it seems that there is no respite from politicking in TTD affairs as well. The problem arises because whichever party is in power, it always eyes the income of the TTD. Which ever party is in power, the opposition alleges that the ruling party was violating all rules to benefit few.

In the past during TDP regime, we had seen the controversy pertaining to the removal of chief priest Ramana Deekshutulu and retirement of hereditary priests who had attained the age of 65. The High Court said that they cannot be retired like that and the board resolutions governing other employees cannot be made applicable to the hereditary priests.

Now certain recent decisions taken by the TTD board has once again raked up fresh controversies. The opposition had been alleging that the rules were being violated to help those who are close to power. They raked up the issue of regularisation of additional land occupied by two Mutts based on a letter from TTD executive officer recommending the same. The letter was issued on Thursday. It had become more sensational because the regularisation pertained to Visakha Sarada Peetham.

In January, following the approval of the trust board, it was decided that the land of this Peetham and Mouna Swamy Mutt should be regularised. But the issue it is alleged was kept under wraps.

Normally such issues are made public after the TTD board meeting. The opposition has been raising hue and cry that the mutts need not be given such huge lands atop the seven hills.

Old timers recall that in early eighties, allotment of land was done to Mutts on exchange basis that is for acquiring the

Mutts' properties located in the four mada streets required by for widening the streets for free movement of deities' procession and also for providing facilities for pilgrims witnessing the processions.

These Mutts have a historical background and have their presence in Tirumala for centuries serving its disciplines and followers visiting Tirumala for darshan or participating in the Utsavams like Brahmotsavams.

But from 2005, the TTD started allotting lands to various Peethams, religious and charitable institutions yielding to political pressures. This resulted in mushrooming of religious and charitable institutions in Tirumala spreading its contour beyond the Ring Road where the lands were first allotted to Mutts to Gogarbham dan area near the deep forests. This has even affected the environment local people claim.

Every successive government blames its predecessors and takes their actions as precedents and has been allotting lands claiming that these organisations were meant for Hindu Dharma Prachar. But there are also allegations that the mutts were using them for revenue generation by giving their premises on rent for VVIP visitors.

Interestingly, in the case of Visakha Sarada Peetam, which was established about 25-30 years back, 5000 sq ft was allotted first and now, almost same extent of 4815 sq ft land which was so far under encroachment was regularised by the government surpassing many established historical mutts and peethams which were content with less extent of land allotted to them.

Ajaykumar, a disciple of an age-old Mutt and senior advocate said that a glance at the details of allotment of lands to the 31 religious institutions including those whose lands under encroachment have been regularised, reveals that TTD does not have a clear cut policy on this issue. He said while centuries old mutts had to remain content with small piece of lands, some of them like these two have been favoured.

He felt that unless the TTD comes up with a clear action plan and decides to stop the allotment of land to any institution and takes stern measures against those who encroach lands, Tirumala would turn into a concrete jungle. Even as of now, the environment has been affected, he said.

Venkatnadh, a local devotee and an auditor said that the even the lease amount which is low was resulting in high pressure on the board for allotment of more and more land. Encroachment of land by mutts and seeking regularisation is something one fails to understand.

Mutts are supposed to show the devotees on how to conduct themselves in life. If they themselves encroach and get it regularised, what lessons are they teaching the people some devotees question.