Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chairman B R Naidu, who is supposed to keep away from politics and focus on the administration of Lord Venkateshwara temple on Tirumala hills, has made a scathing attack on YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy.
Speaking to reporters at Tirumala, B R Naidu sought to rebut the allegations levelled by Bhumana and other YSRCP leaders on the issue of land allocation to the Oberoi Group for the proposed Mumtaz Hotel in Tirupati.
Naidu clarified that misleading propaganda was being spread about the sacred Tirumala lands.
He explained that in 2008, an MoU was signed under the PPP model to allocate 30.32 acres for the Devalok project, and later, 20 acres were allotted for the Mumtaz Hotel during the previous government’s tenure.
Naidu recalled that Hindu organizations strongly opposed the move and the TTD board had unanimously passed a resolution against giving the land to the hotel.
“On the advice of then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the TTD decided to reclaim the sacred land and offer land elsewhere in exchange,” he said.
Discussions were held with the hotel management, and paperwork for the transfer is still in progress.
“No land has been handed over yet,” Naidu clarified.
He lashed out at the YSRCP, asking, “How can you accuse us when you were the ones who allocated the land? This land is sacred, and we will not let an inch of it go. Some are trying to mislead the public. Why don’t you first explain why you allocated the land in the first place?”
Naidu went on to accuse YSRCP chief of corruption, saying, “You have been evading CBI investigations for 13 years. You have no moral right to demand a probe now. If you are guilty, admit your wrongdoing and apologize.”
Criticizing the opposition, he said, “You keep throwing mud at us every day. Not everyone is corrupt like you. Those 20 acres were not given for free, and we know exactly what happened. Jagan personally threatened Ajay Kumar at point-blank range to take back those 20 acres.”
He also declared that Bhumana Karunakar Reddy was unfit to live in Tirupati and he should be expelled from the city.
“Allocating land close to the seven hills for the Mumtaz Hotel was a grave mistake by the YSRCP. It is inappropriate to allow a hotel in such a sacred location. We convinced the hotel management to accept 25 acres at an alternative location,” he said.
