Tirupati Tirumala temple staff members so far 743 test positive for Covid-19
While 402 individuals have been so far recovered. Three employees died to the infection.
Despite the signs of the alarming outbreak in Tirupati Tirumala the temple administration has no plans to stop darshans.
TTD executive officer AK Singhal revealed this during his regular telephonic interactive session (dial your EO) with devotees on Sunday.
He rejected criticism which stated that the temple was open only for the sake of income.
He said the temple was reopened after 80 days of closure only to satisfy the devotees who were longing for darshan.
[splco_quote]”We are spending more money on all facilities of COVID measures rather than what we are making out from pilgrims,” he claimed[/splco_quote]
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The EO made it clear that people who book tickets online and cannot travel to Tirupati because of their areas falling under red zones would not receive a refund.
The refund facility was only for the lockdown period.
The EO also responded to the criticism that mentioned that the TTD’s SVBC channel ignored the foundation laying for Ram mandir at Ayodhya
He said the PM’s programme could not be broadcasted live due to Tirumala Lord’s Nitya Kalyanam from 12 pm to 1 pm.
To a query on people from other faiths working in TTD, Singhal responded, “There was no restriction over their appointment until 1989.
Though the amendment was brought after 1989, that was implied only to temples alone.
Again in 2007, a legislation was enacted to employ only Hindus in TTD. When we tried to repatriate 45 employees of other faiths to other departments, they approached the High Court.
The issue is under the judicial purview. But we are strictly acting on those if anyone who professes other religious faiths working in Hindu Institution,” he added.
