Former head priest of Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala Ramana Deekshitulu on Wednesday made a sensational allegation that the Srivari Potu (Lord's kitchen) was dug up indiscriminately last year at the behest of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and some “madam.”
Deekshitulu told media in Hyderabad that the temple kitchen was closed for 25 days between December 8, 2017 and January 3, 2018 in the name of repairs.
“I was Agama consultant for the temple, besides being the head priest. Any work in the temple premises should be done with my consultation. The TTD authorities did not consult me and closed down the kitchen for 25 days. They told me that they were conducting some minor repairs,” he pointed out.
On December 20, Deekshitulu went to the Potu area and looked inside only to find that the entire floor of the kitchen was dug up indiscriminately as if there was an earthquake there.
“When I called up executive officer and informed the same, he said he was not aware of it. He said the authorities only told him that there were removing four stone slabs and relaying them. He asked me to submit a report after talking to Joint Executive Officer Srinivasa Raju,” he said.
When Deekshitulu met Raju, the latter told him to shut up.
“The work is being done as per the instructions from the chief minister and a madam. He shouted at me for raking up the issue and I was so afraid that I could not say anything. I still do not know who the Madam is,” he said.
The retired head priest, quoting old scriptures and inscriptions, said that a massive wealth was hidden beneath the first “prakaram” of the temple and the entry was from the kitchen.
“Perhaps that is why the authorities dug up the kitchen floor,” he said.
Deekshitulu demanded that the Centre order a CBI inquiry into the whole episode.
“If it does not, I will sit on a fast unto death sometime in July seeking justice.
