TTD Chairman BR Naidu and Executive Officer P. Shyamala Rao have strongly denied allegations of rift among them and that lack of coordination among them led to last week’s stampede incident reports that the stampede incident at the Vaikunta Dwara Sarva Darshan token issuance centers in Tirupati.
Addressing a joint press meeting, along with Additional EO Venkaiah Chowdhury, they claimed of having perfect coordination among them and working together bringing reforms in the TTD administration, as advised by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. They recalled that except the stampede, the most unfortunate incident, no other untoward incident took place at TTD in recent times.
They deplored false news coming out on social media and propaganda channels about Tirumala. Chairman BR Naidu expressed regret that the stampede incident that took place on January 8th was unfortunate, all arrangements were made well for Vaikuntha Dwara darshans, and the stampede took place unexpectedly.
He denied the news coming out on some social media in his name without his involvement. He deplored that false propaganda against him and Tirumala on social media is hurting the sentiments of crores of Hindus and appealed to people to think twice before spreading news. He said that compensation has already been given to the families of those who died and those injured in the incident, to a total of 31 people, and it will be given to another 28 people by Tuesday.
TTD EO Shyamala Rao said that false propaganda is being spread on social media against Tirumala and that such news has been ignored due to the pressure of work related to Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan. He said that the news that the incidents took place due to lack of coordination is untrue.
The news that he had scolded TTD Chairman BR Naidu was also completely false propaganda, and the EO said that the chairman of the Board of Trustees is the most crucial role in TTD.
He said that all the arrangements for Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan were made well, that everything was done as per the protocol at the Sarva Darshan token issuance centers in Tirupati, and that there was an unexpected stampede when the devotees were released during the token issuance process.