In the wake of devotees encountering wild animals along the Tirumala pathway routes, including killing of a six-year-old girl, Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded a judicial probe into the issue.
BJP sees a connection between increased presence of wild animals in Tirumala and activities of red sanders smugglers within the Seshachalam forest.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, party state spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy observed that constant felling of red sanders trees by smugglers is making the wild animals move away from deep forests.
“Red sanders is a rare and valuable wood. It has consistently been in significant demand. This leads to presence of numerous smugglers in the Seshachalam forest at any given moment, thereby disturbing the animals,” he remarked.
The BJP spokesperson accused state government of failing to take necessary measures to prevent red sanders smuggling from Seshachalam forest. He alleged that the government is even downplaying the role of red sanders smuggling, as ruling party leaders are involved in it.
Bhanuprakash Reddy charged Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy with not holding discussions with forest officials on the matter of wild animal attacks or red sanders smuggling. Even the minister for environment and forest has not yet issued any statement to instil confidence among devotees, he stated.
Criticising measures taken by Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam, Bhanuprakash Reddy displayed at the media conference toy leopards and sticks. He questioned the efficacy of providing sticks to pilgrims as a solution for deterring wild animals.
"Besides providing sticks to tackle wild animals, is the TTD considering any genuine measures,” he asked.
