Criticisms are pouring in over the delay and restricted movements of devotees near the entrance as never before in the history of Tirumala. Locals and devotees of Srivari are objecting to this. CM Jagan has ordered an inquiry and demanded that the responsible officials be shifted from Thirumala Konda to the parent company.
Naveen Kumar, a devotee, was outraged that ordinary devotees were being treated carelessly and irresponsibly. A conditional apology was demanded from TTD officials for keeping devotees in Vaikuntham compartments for hours and showing the virus as booby traps and at least not giving them food and even milk for toddlers. On the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, how many tickets were allotted to VIPs from the office of Thirumala JEO, Chairman? How many tickets of Srivani Trust were given? They asked how many Supatham Darshan tickets were allotted. They demanded the release of a complete list in front of the media to make the facts known to the devotees.
In the past, Vaikuntha Ekadashi was visited by about 80,000 devotees, including VIPs, on other festivals. Such is the case today that a limited number of devotees are allowed to get tickets online due to the virus. The locals were allotted only Rs 5 lakh per day on a ration basis. TTD employees were allowed in a time slot manner to their families. At least their relatives are not even allowed to give a letter of recommendation to get entry.
What happened to the continuous meetings held by the officials to make more space for the common people for the darshans? How could they make the devotees sit hungry for hours in the Vaikuntham Queue Complex? The locals are incensed.
Despite the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister announcing guidelines on the virus that is rising hour by hour across the country, how reasonable is it for TTD top brass to issue tickets to other state dignitaries, industrialists, politicians, and their entourage? At least take a look at the corona test certificates and allow them?
Questions like this were raised especially talking about the kind of crowd from the VIPs.