Former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy has held the government accountable for the tragic stampede at Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati, which claimed the lives of several devotees. Expressing profound sorrow over the incident, he attributed the tragedy to administrative negligence and mismanagement by the current coalition government.
Lack of Proper Arrangements
Karunakar Reddy criticized the failure to ensure adequate arrangements for Vaikuntha Ekadashi Darshan, despite the anticipated large turnout of devotees. “Such an incident is unprecedented in the last five years. Why has it happened now?” he questioned.
Allegations Against TTD Leadership
- He accused the government of appointing controversial individuals to lead TTD, alleging that the sacred institution has been reduced to a political hub under their control.
- Reddy claimed the ruling party had ignored the welfare of devotees, compromising the sanctity of Lord Venkateswara’s temple for political propaganda.
Failures in Safety and Coordination
Highlighting the lack of coordination among officials, Reddy accused the Tirupati SP of behaving like a political agent rather than focusing on the safety of devotees. He also alleged that the TTD Chairman prioritized political activities over addressing devotees’ concerns, including ticket mismanagement.
Demand for Accountability
The former chairman demanded an immediate inquiry into the incident and called for strict action against the TTD Chairman, local SP, and other officials involved. “The government must take responsibility for this tragedy and apologize to Lord Venkateswara’s devotees,” he said.
Also read:
https://voiceofandhra.org/2025/01/08/visakhapatnam-steel-plant-protest-during-modi-visit/
