The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Give priority to common devotees'

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Tuesday, May 04, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Give priority to common devotees'

Special Correspondent

Rosaiah concerned over reports about hardships faced by pilgrims at Tirumala

HYDERABAD: Concerned over reports about hardship caused to pilgrims at the Tirumala temple due to the heavy summer rush during the past two days, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah asked Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to give top priority to common devotees in providing darshan by regulating special puja timings and the break darshans for VIPs.

Quicker darshan

“Mr. Rosaiah spoke to TTD Executive Officer I. Y. R. Krishna Rao, on telephone on Monday and asked him to see that common devotees were not put to hardship. He asked him to explore all possibilities to ensure quicker darshan to the aged, the differently-abled and mothers carrying infants who were made to stand in Vaikuntam queue complex for hours together. Drinking water must be supplied to all those waiting in the queue.

“There should not be any room for complaints from pilgrims,” he said. “Common devotees, who are the government's priority, should not be subjected to any hardship,” the Chief Minister said while reviewing the situation at Tirumala with the EO on Monday.

The EO was asked to see that the sanctity of the famous temple was preserved at any cost. The Chief Minister wanted the TTD administration to take precautions for the safety and security of the pilgrims at Tirumala and Tirupati. Steps also must be initiated to prevent exploitation of the pilgrims by middlemen and unscrupulous elements. Mr Krishna Rao was particularly directed to monitor the entire system atop Tirumala by regularly inspecting the queue complex, guest-houses, Annadanam complex and hotels.

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