TTD is committed to preventing misuse of VIP letters of recommendation

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams are making efforts to facilitate darshan to the large number of pilgrims. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT

In what can be termed as a decisive move, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to curb widespread misuse of letters of recommendation by elected representatives seeking special facilities for darshan and accommodation in Tirumala.

TTD has identified that there is excessive misuse of letters by some people’s representatives like MPs, MLAs, MLCs, cutting across political lines, except some ministers. While it remains to be seen whether the abuse of privilege was done knowingly or unknowingly by political leaders, early indications unfortunately point to their involvement in many cases.

It is against this background that the TTD has prepared a detailed list of violators and is ready to submit it to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his intervention in the matter.

talking HinduTTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Choudhary said that the administration is committed to take strict action against abuse of privileges that adversely affect the image of the institution. While ensuring a hassle-free and quick darshan is our priority, maintaining the sanctity and peace of the city/place is equally important, he said.

While MLAs, MLCs, MPs and state ministers have the right to recommend six people for darshan in a day, they can take 10 tickets if they come in person. In order to facilitate darshan to the general pilgrims who throng in large numbers during weekends, the TTD has imposed restrictions limiting acceptance of recommendation letters to the first four days of the week.

However, some leaders have allegedly misused their VIP status, staying in Tirumala for days and claiming tickets under false pretenses. Investigations by the authorities have also revealed cases of agents misrepresenting outsiders as their ‘family members’ and securing tickets for them. In some cases, officials also found VIPs buying tickets for multiple services on the same day.

Newly appointed board members are no exception. Even though the quota of 10 to 20 tickets per day has been increased, the temple administration has also taken it seriously saying that some members of the newly appointed board are asking for more tickets on dubious pretexts.

The TTD has also flagged the misuse of recommendation letters issued by high-profile officials, which are allegedly sold at exorbitant prices in the black market.

Of late, the preferential treatment given to VIPs has drawn criticism from various quarters, as ordinary pilgrims have to wait agonizingly for hours – and sometimes the queues stretch for kilometers – all for a chance to catch a glimpse of the presiding deity. .

Devotees aspiring for online tickets will not be allowed to take service for 30 days after booking Darshan tickets, while devotees coming for Arjitha Seva are prohibited from taking any service tickets for the next 90 days.

The TTD which is reeling under the pressure of growing public anger and calling for curtailment of unfair privileges granted to VIPs has decided to bring the issue to the notice of Chief Minister Naidu and seek his guidance.