New Delhi: Following the distressing visuals of a stampede like situation in Tirumala shrine in Tirupati, Firebrand youth leader Rama Chandra Yadav has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy for his apathy towards the plight of the pilgrims. On Wednesday, in a fiery video message on Facebook directly addressed to the Chief Minister, the young leader and former MLA candidate from Punganur said that the current dispensation was completely insensitive to Hindu culture and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam traditions. He accused the Devasthanam board chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy and other officials of giving VIP treatment to a select few of their own party while failing to provide the most basic amenities like water to the pilgrim, who suffered heat strokes and dehydration. “Chief Minister, the main reason that has triggered a situation like this is that your babai (uncle), TTD chairperson is completely clueless about Hindu culture and TTD traditions and rituals. He frequently changes the rules and regulations. For example, if some day the ticket cost is Rs. 100 on another day it becomes Rs 1000. As per government rules there should be two IAS officers in the TTD administration. However, no protocols are followed and preference is given to close relatives and aids of the ruling dispensation by the chairperson. All authority is given to a corrupt and controversial EO who ignores the needs of the devotees and forms rules and regulations as per his own convenience. He runs the temple like his personal fiefdom.” Many videos are doing the rounds on social media which show children separated from their parents crying for help in a stampede-like situation. Reportedly three people were injured in the stampede. The videos also show old women fainting because of heat stroke and dehydration. As thousands of devotees turned up to catch a glimpse of Lord Venkateswar, they had to stand in long queues withstanding exposure to scorching sun for hours together for the past few days. However, authorities have shown no mercy. Many devotees had to go back without darshan of Lord Venkateshwar, lamented Yadav. “We have seen how in the past four days devotees have been left to lie on roads without any shelter or water facilities. And despite such helplessness of the devotees none of the officials be it board chairman Subba Reddy Garu, Jawahar Reddy Garu, or local MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy garu and one of the important TTD board members Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy have turned a blind eye to this crisis,” he said commenting on the plight of the devotees. Yadav chided the TTD administration by saying that it was only after they took matters in their hands that the quality of management of the shrine deteriorated. He says: “Earlier when even lakhs of people turned up to pray to Lord Venkateswara, they could do it without any trouble. But now, dear CM under your rule, they have been denied the right to pray peacefully. Many restrictions have been put up that discourage pilgrims from coming to Tirumala. Even those who are brave enough to come here, they return without catching a glimpse of Lord Venkateswara.” Urging the CM to take responsibility for the pain and suffering caused to the devotees in the last four days, he said: “There is a need to wake up against the unfair rules of darshan, and lack of basic amenities at the shrine. All we want from you is that the devotees can have a peaceful darshan of the Lord and get the most basic amenities. This is all we desire. Nothing more. We don’t want VIP darshan like your party leaders, and cadre. Beware of Lord Vekateswara’s wrath. Wake up before he opens his red eye and mend your way of functioning. You won’t be spared for causing pain to devotees.” Yadav, 39, was born and brought up in Punganur, Chittoor district in Rayalseema area. After his schooling, he did his higher studies in Nellore, Vizag and Tirupati. He did Masters in Business Administration and Management. He is an entrepreneur and has been associated with the founding of various successful business ventures across multiple sectors like Business Services, Health and Social Work, tourism, real estate, and software industry. Coming from a middle-class agricultural background, he settled in Punganur to do business and serve his own people. During this period he got the chance to observe the people and their problems closely. He decided to enter politics as an independent candidate, later joined Jana Sena and fought from Punganur constituency in 2019 Assembly elections. He gave a tough competition to his rival YSRCP strongman Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy and continues to be vocal against the lack of development in the region. In one of his interviews he stated, “He has entered politics to only serve Punganur people who don’t have basic facilities like water supply, transportation, and education opportunities.”
