Despite the tall claims being made by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that it was taking all precautions to prevent non-Hindu religious activity in Tirumala; there have still been such incidents surfacing now and then.
On Thursday, a vehicle displaying a non-Hindu religious symbol was found on Tirumala Hill, where religious proselytization and promotional materials are strictly prohibited.
The incident occurred when a vehicle bearing registration TN-31-AE-4073, belonging to Tamil Nadu, was identified on the hilltop with a sticker representing another faith.
The TTD officials traced the vehicle’s entry to 10.40 am, when it passed through Lane 9 at the Alipiri checkpoint. The on-duty staffer, V Vasu Babu, failed to notice the sticker.
Once alerted, TTD Vigilance teams located the vehicle near the Fire Office parking area in Tirumala, immediately removed the sticker, and lodged a complaint at the Tirumala II Town Police Station.
The complaint sought legal action for violation of Tirumala’s strict guidelines, which prohibit the entry of vehicles carrying material connected with non-Hindu religious propagation.
A case has been registered against the vehicle’s driver, Gobi from Karur district, Tamil Nadu, and the vehicle owner under the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowments Act, 1987.
The TTD authorities also took internal disciplinary action against staffer Vasu Babu, who failed to detect the sticker, has been removed from Alipiri checkpoint duty, and departmental proceedings have been initiated for negligence.
The TTD reiterated that it maintains zero tolerance towards any form of non-Hindu religious promotion on Tirumala Hill, citing its responsibility to uphold the sanctity of the world-renowned Hindu pilgrimage centre.
