Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has begun a penance in response to allegations that previous rulers desecrated the sacred Lord Venkateswara laddu. The penance commenced on Sunday at the Sri Dasavatara Venkateswara Swamy temple in Namburu, where special prayers were conducted. Kalyan plans to maintain this spiritual observance for eleven days before visiting the Tirumala temple.
During his address following the initiation of the penance, Kalyan stressed the importance of protecting the sentiments of devotees across all faiths. He vowed to combat incidents that harm religious feelings, recalling past events where temples were desecrated and chariots set ablaze under previous governments. He also referenced protests that arose from disrespect toward the idol of Lord Rama, reiterating his concerns about the quality and purity of prasadam.
Pawan Kalyan expressed strong disapproval of the changes made to worship rituals at Tirumala since 2019, claiming significant alterations have been implemented under the YSRCP government. He alleged that the Sri Vani Trust collected ₹10,000 while issuing bills for only ₹500, raising concerns about the alleged adulteration of the sacred prasadam. Kalyan insisted that those responsible for these actions must face consequences and called for a cabinet meeting and assembly discussions to address these critical issues, questioning the accountability of officials and the Chief Minister’s stance on the matter.