Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh today stepped up pressure on the state government over the alleged controversial appointments to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board and demanded an apology and explanation from the Chief Minister.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and BJP wanted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to respect the sentiments of Hindus and scrap the controversial appointments, including that of the Chairman and a member, who admitted that her family was "basically Christian."
However, neither the government nor Telugu Desam Party are yet to react formally on the issue.
The controversy is over the appointments of Board Chairman Putta Sudhakara Yadav and Vangalapudi Anita, who is also an MLA from Payakaraopet.
While Yadav claims to be a devout Hindu despite Hindu groups alleging he participated in Christian religious events, Anita has admitted that her family is "basically Christian."
The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N Raghuveera Reddy hit out at the government and said the Chief Minister should remove the controversial members.
"It is nothing but sacrilege. It is unprecedented. The Chief Minister should immediately apologise for this and remove the controversial members. Otherwise, the government will pay a heavy price for this," Reddy said.
It was unfortunate that appointments to the TTD Board have been made along political lines rather than on devotional credentials, he alleged.
Reddy, a former minister, also said the MLA was on record saying she always carried a Bible. "Nothing wrong in it, but she is ineligible to be a member of the TTD Board."
He alleged that the government went ahead with the controversial appointments with a 'pigheaded attitude' that none should question its decisions.
YSR Congress MLA R K Roja said it was unfortunate that appointments to the TTD Board became controversial and said the Chief Minister owed an explanation to people on this.
"The Board was constituted in a manner that hurt the sentiments of Hindus. The government should respect Hindus and temples.The responsibility is on the Chief Minister,"she said.
BJP state spokesman Sudheesh Rambhotla also took strong exception to the constitution of the new TTD Board.
Meanwhile, Anita speaking to a television channel, appealed to opposition parties not to create an issue over her appointment.
"Yes,my family is basically Christian but I am a devotee of Lord Venkateswara. I worship the Lord," she claimed.
Interestingly, the TDP government appointed Sapna Mungantiwar, wife of Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar of the BJP, as a member of the TTD Board along with philanthropist Sudha Narayana Murthy.
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