New Delhi: An Andhra Pradesh Police report has demanded the closure of Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple as it held that Covid-19 spread in the area was “only” due to the reopening of the temple on 8 June.
The temple must shut down since it doesn’t come under the category of “emergency services”, said the report by Munni Ramiah, Tirupati’s Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), law and order. ThePrint has accessed the report, which was submitted to authorities late Friday.
The virus spread in the area started “only due to reopening temple for darshan on 8th June”. “And employees working in Tirumala are worst affected by this,” said the report, demanding immediate “stringent decision”.
Even if none of the 12,000 pilgrims have tested Covid-positive, as the temple authorities claim, it cannot be overlooked that employees are still at risk, it said.
Temple officials are holding a review meeting currently to take a decision on whether to close down the temple. The decision is expected later Saturday. So far, 158 temple staff members, including 21 priests, have tested positive for Covid-19.
The report found that the maximum cases among these 158 are from the state police — 43 personnel deputed at the temple.
The authorities are meeting just two days after Y.V. Subba Reddy, the chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board, which runs the temple, said prayers will continue at the temple with social distancing measures in place.
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“Most of the Covid-19 infections of TTD employees were only through their family members and living surroundings,” Reddy had said.
Temple officials told ThePrint that no senior priests will be put on duty even if the temple remains open.
What the report said
The report said pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh’s containment zones were issued online tickets to visit the temple without any restrictions.
“A majority of potu workers were infected with Covid-19 but preparation and sale of laddus has not been stopped,” the report said, adding that Brahmins distributing “Anna prasadham” were also infected.
Increased road travel of pilgrims from Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to the temple is adding to the number of cases in the region, the report added.
It recommended that no private hotel should be allowed to open in Chittoor district for pilgrims, where the temple is located.
Demand for action against TTD officials
Meanwhile, the temple’s honorary chief priest Ramana Dikshitulu expressed concern on Twitter Thursday about employees and priests of the temple testing positive and sought action against authorities.
Tagging Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, he suggested that regular services at the temple be stopped so that more people aren’t infected. However, he said priests must be allowed to carry out the daily rituals in isolation as was the case even during the lockdown.
@ysjagan 15 out of 50 archakas carona +ve quarantined. Still 25 results awaited. TTD EO and AEO refuse to stop darshans. Obediently following anti hereditary archaka and anti brahmin policy of TDP and CBN. Disaster if this continues. Please take action.
— Ramana Dikshitulu (@DrDikshitulu) July 16, 2020
@ysjagan @yvsubbareddymp As an advisor I mention that archakas are irreplaceable. Aradhana to Srivaru should not be stopped even a single day. It is not good to the human race. I suggest to stop the darshans for a few weeks to protect archakas and to continue puja in ekantham.
— Ramana Dikshitulu (@DrDikshitulu) July 17, 2020
He even asked the CM to take action against TTD officials for not stopping the prayers yet. Dikshitulu was removed as chief priest in 2018 and then later reappointed as honorary chief priest to serve the temple as an advisor in 2019.
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