TIRUPATI / RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, Jan3: YSR Congress Party leaders on Friday strongly condemned the shocking sacrilege at the historic Govindaraja Swamy Temple in Tirupati, stating that the incident stands as irrefutable proof of the coalition government’s complete failure to protect temples, faith, and devotees.
Addressing the media, Bhuma Karunakar Reddy, former TTD Chairman, released a video showing a drunk man climbing the Rajagopuram of the temple, trampling over sacred miniature idols and shouting obscenities. He said the incident was a grave sacrilege that exposed a total breakdown of temple security and governance. He recalled that the Rajagopuram, built during the era of the Matla kings and regarded as an iconic symbol of Tirupati, had never witnessed such desecration in history. Bhuma alleged that under Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams leadership headed by Chairman B.R. Naidu, the administration has gone completely off track, prioritising VIP services and political appeasement over dharmic responsibility and devotee safety.
Bhuma Karunakar Reddy said it was deeply disturbing that the accused was reportedly a supporter of Pawan Kalyan, while liquor and non-vegetarian food were allegedly freely available in the Tirumala region. He pointed out that repeated stampedes, security lapses and intimidation of devotees— including during Vaikuntha Ekadasi—were being falsely projected as “efficient management” by the authorities. He further alleged that VIP darshan privileges were being extended to select businessmen who advertise on channels linked to the TTD Chairman, and demanded that the complete list of VIP darshans sanctioned by the Chairman and board members be made public on a daily basis. He also questioned the unprecedented move of TTD taking over privately-built temples, citing a temple linked to Yanmala Ramakrishnudu in Tuni constituency, and asked under what tradition or rule such actions were being carried out.
In a separate statement, YSRCP East Godavari district president and former minister Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna said the Govindaraja Swamy temple incident proved that the coalition government had deceived not only the people but even God. He questioned the silence of Pawan Kalyan, who claims to be a Sanatana Dharmist, on such a serious act of sacrilege. He said that in the last 18 months, a series of grave incidents had shaken devotees’ faith—ranging from stampedes in Tirupati to deaths of devotees at Simhachalam and Kasibugga, and the Draksharamam incident which was hastily covered up with token measures. He also recalled how claims of animal fat in Tirumala laddu were politically exploited earlier, while real threats to temple sanctity were being ignored.
Both leaders criticised the coalition government led by N. Chandrababu Naidu of reducing temple governance to self-praise and political propaganda, while systematically eroding security, transparency, and sanctity. They said the Govindaraja Swamy temple sacrilege has deeply hurt the sentiments of crores of devotees and demanded immediate accountability, transparency in TTD operations, and clear answers from the coalition leaders on whether temples in Andhra Pradesh are truly safe under their rule.
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