Tirupati stampede: Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan raps TTD for its ‘continued focus on VIPs’

He expresses anguish over the missing gaps in the arrangements made for issuing ‘Vaikunta Dwara Darshan’ tokens

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has rapped the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) authorities for “continuing to ignore the common pilgrims by nurturing the VIP-centric focus” in spite of the regime change.

Accompanied by Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu, Joint Collector Subham Bansal, Superintendent of Police (Chittoor) Manikanta Chandolu, Deputy Superintendent of Police Chenchu Babu, the Deputy Chief Minister visited the stampede site at Bairagipatteda on January 9, 2025 (Thursday), where he expressed anguish over the “missing gaps” in the arrangements for issuing ‘Vaikunta Dwara Darshan’ tokens.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan expressed displeasure over the practice of the bureaucrats making policies and devising strategies within the confines of the four walls, thus making glaring misses in the execution of plans.

“This is not the way to deal with the arrangements for the common man. The TTD has to shed its VIP-centric approach and start focussing on the common pilgrims. I am making this appeal to the TTD Chairman also.”K. Pawan KalyanAndhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister

Squarely blaming Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao, Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, and other officials down the hierarchical ladder for the tragedy, Mr. Pawan Kalyan asked the officials to make coordinated efforts to benefit the common devotee.

“This is not the way to deal with the arrangements for the common man. The TTD has to shed its VIP-centric approach and start focussing on the common pilgrims. I am making this appeal to the TTD Chairman also,” he said.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan was displeased at the poor illumination at the stampede area, fixing of odd hours for issuing tokens and non-adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Published - January 09, 2025 08:35 pm IST