Visit Tirumala once a year only: V-P to VIPs

Tirupati: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu was on Tuesday critical of VIPs frequently visiting Tirumala, thereby causing untold hardships to ordinary people. He suggested that they restrict their visit to the shrine only once a year.

Speaking to media persons in Tirumala after offering prayers along with his family members, the Vice-President made it clear that this was his view as a common devotee and not as a person occupying high position. “I have expressed this view before also and conveyed it to TTD management to work towards this direction,” he averred.

Venkaiah went through the massive Vaikuntam Queue complex meant for common pilgrims to reach the shrine instead of directly entering through Maha Dwaram which he is entitled as the Vice President. “As common pilgrim I went through Vaikuntam queue line for darshan which I continued even after becoming MLA, MP, Minister and now as Vice President.

As the popularity of Lord Venkateswara is fast growing not only in the country but the world over, it is resulting in the pilgrim numbers swelling by the year, and in this context it is high time we, the VIPs, thought about the convenience of the large number of common pilgrims,” he said.

He said he was visit Tirumala on completion of one year as the Vice-President to pray to the Lord to bestow His blessings upon him and give more strength and patience to discharge his responsibilities in the best manner possible. He also prayed for peace and prosperity of Indians and the welfare of mankind.

Earlier, Naidu was accorded the ceremonial Isthikapal Swagatham and conducted into the sanctum sanctorum by the priests and officials led by TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal. After darshan, Vedic pundits rendered Aasirvachanam and EO presented him Theertha prasadams and a memento to Venkaiah Naidu.