TTD refutes the statement
YSR Congress Party spokesperson Bhumana Karunakar Reddy
TIRUPATI: A controversy has erupted in AP on Friday after YSR Congress Party spokesperson Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, who is a former chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), has charged that over 100 cows have died at the TTD goshala over the past three months due to negligence and administrative apathy.
Soon after Bhumana made the charge, TTD administration firmly denied that cows had died. “The charge is completely baseless and misleading,” the devasthanam maintained.
Addressing a press conference in Tirupati on Friday, Bhumana observed that the conditions at the TTD-run goshala have severely deteriorated after the coalition government has taken charge. He accused the coalition government of concealing the fact that more than 100 cows have perished.
Addressing a press conference in Tirupati on Friday, Bhumana observed that the conditions at the TTD-run goshala have severely deteriorated after the coalition government has taken charge. He accused the coalition government of concealing the fact that more than 100 cows have perished.
“It is unthinkable that this is happening so close to the abode of Lord Venkateswara, who is revered as a protector of cows,” the former TTD chairman said, displaying photographs that he said are those of cows that have died at the TTD goshala.
Bhumana went on to demand an independent probe into the matter. He observed that an inexperienced official is heading the goshala, who has not bothered to conduct a post-mortem of the dead cows to find out why they are dying in huge numbers.
Comparing the current state of affairs with that during the YSRC regime, the former TTD chairman said the previous government had brought high-quality indigenous breeds from states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab, enabling a daily milk yield of 1,500 litres. He said the yield is now less than 500 litres.
Bhumana appealed to Hindu organisations and Go Sevaks to visit the goshala and assess the conditions themselves.
In response, the TTD administration, in an official statement, denied the death of cows in its goshala, calling them baseless and misleading. The statement said the photos circulated are not related to any TTD facility. The statement said such misinformation hurts the sentiments of devotees.
In response, the TTD administration, in an official statement, denied the death of cows in its goshala, calling them baseless and misleading. The statement said the photos circulated are not related to any TTD facility. The statement said such misinformation hurts the sentiments of devotees.
TTD board member and BJP leader Bhanu Prakash Reddy refuted the charges and accused the former TTD chairman of lying for political gain. “All cows are safe and well cared for. If Bhumana wants, we are ready to show him the facilities”, he stated.
The BJP leader accused the YSRC leader of trying to gain political mileage. He went on to accuse the previous regime of treating Tirumala as a revenue source rather than a spiritual centre.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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