About 5000 employees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara here, today went on mass leave and took out a rally demanding reversal of Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
With a view not to inconvenience the pilgrims,the staff attending day shift at the hill temple, queue complexes, pilgrim accommodations, tonsure centre and health department on the hills did not participate in the strike,Temple sources told PTI.
The TTD Union, respecting the sentiments of the pilgrims, have exempted these personnel from joining the strike, they said.
The massive building of the TTD headquarters here today wore a deserted look as the entire staff working in it took part in the strike and rally, taken out with musical paraphernalia while dozens of Vedic Pandits and some priests working in the TTD run sub-temples in down Tirupati and its surrounding towns also took part in the rally.
The TTD has about 9000 strong staff besides about 4000 contract workers, the sources said.
