Scrap VIP darshan at Tirumala: TD

Hyderabad: Telugu Desam politburo member and former minister T. Srinivas Yadav demanded scrapping of VIP darshan of Lord Venkateshwara in Tir-umala following the Vaikunta Ekadasi fiasco where thousands of pilgrims were made to wait for long hours in queues to make way for VIPs. He demanded that the government order a high-level inquiry into the  issuance of large number of VIP passes and initiate action against erring officials.

He questioned granting of VIP status to N. Santosh Reddy, brother of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, and demanded details of accommodation provided to VIPs on January 11. Yadav said the attitude of TTD authorities towards ordinary pilgrims was highly reprehensible and tantamount to gross discrimination of people.

“God is for all and not for VIPs alone. Everyone is equal in the eyes of God. The government should stop all VIP darshans and take appropriate action against TTD officials who have violated and misused their power on Vaikunta Ekadasi day”?he said. Yadav lodged a complaint with the authorities concenrned in this regard.

The Telugu Desam politburo member said persons who do not come under VIP category, like Santosh Reddy, were given too much importance merely because he is the brother of the CM. "My friends and relatives who visited Tirumala narrated their harrowing experience," he said.