TTD Chairman BR Naidu Says 'Only Hindus Should Work In Tirupati', Calls It His 'First Effort'

The newly appointed chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board, B R Naidu, stated that all individuals working within the temple's premises should be Hindus, as reported by news agency PTI.

"Everyone who works at Tirumala should be a Hindu. That would be my first effort. There are many issues in this. We have to look into that," said Naidu.

Photo Credit: PTI

Naidu added that he would consult with the Andhra Pradesh government on how to proceed concerning staff members of other faiths. He also mentioned considering the possibility of offering them a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) or reassigning them to different departments.

On Wednesday, the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government formed a new board of 24 members to manage Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the organisation overseeing the world's wealthiest temple at Tirumala Tirupati. Among the new members appointed was Suchitra Ella, co-founder and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International Ltd.

Expressing gratitude to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and other state leaders within the NDA government, Naidu thanked them for entrusting him with the role of chairing the Board.

He further alleged that "many irregularities" occurred during former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure and emphasised the need to "safeguard" the temple's "sanctity."

The temple was recently embroiled in controversy due to allegations from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that ghee mixed with animal fat was used in preparing the iconic Laddu prasadam during Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure.

The matter was taken to the Supreme Court, leading to the establishment of a court-supervised Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the claims. The SIT will include two officials each from the CBI and Andhra Pradesh police, along with a senior official from the FSSAI, with oversight by the CBI Director.

In response, Reddy claimed the court's intervention exposed Naidu's "true picture" and accused the CM of stirring religious sentiments for political motives.

"He (Naidu) does not have devotion or care about God. He can even use the Almighty for political gains. I am praying to God that this sin (Naidu's acts) should not fall on the people of Andhra Pradesh. It should be confined to the CM only and to the alliance that is carrying the burden of Naidu," Reddy remarked.

(With PTI inputs)