BJP behind TTD controversy, alleges Naidu

Carnival begins: TDP national president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu greeting party workers at the inaugural session of Mahanadu in Vijayawada on Sunday.

Carnival begins: TDP national president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu greeting party workers at the inaugural session of Mahanadu in Vijayawada on Sunday.   | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR

At the inaugural session of Mahanadu, he says the saffron party is out to portray the TDP government in bad light

TDP national president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has blamed the BJP for the controversy surrounding the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

Addressing the inaugural session of the party’s conclave, Mahanadu, on Sunday, Mr. Naidu accused the BJP of raking up the controversy over the jewellery of the presiding deity.

ASI notice

The Union Government had attempted to take over the Tirumala temple through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It had served notices, but backtracked following an uproar from the people.

The fresh row was a continuation of the Centre’s efforts to defame and portray the State government in poor light, Mr. Naidu said.

Recalling the attempt made on his life by the Naxalites in 2003, Mr. Naidu said, “I had survived solely because of the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. The God had saved me for a purpose. The onus lies on me to develop Amaravati into a world-class capital city.”

The BJP was trying to meddle with the affairs of the TTD, he said, and added that “those who try to mess with the Lord will incur His wrath.”

‘SCS is our right’

“The BJP is engineering such issues as it bears a grudge against the TDP for insisting on implementation of the A.P. Reorganisation Act. We are not asking for moon. The Special Category Status (SCS) is our right. The TDP had aligned with the BJP in the hope that it would help the State. But the BJP had belied our hopes,” Mr. Naidu said.