Botcha seeks inquiry by sitting judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court into Tirupati stampede

Botcha Satyanarayana demands High Court inquiry into Tirupati stampede, questions government's lack of action and coordination.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Botcha Satyanarayana has demanded an inquiry by a sitting Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court into the stampede in Tirupati. He appealed to the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to take up the case suo motu.

Addressing a media conference here on Friday evening, Mr. Satyanarayana said that after the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance government came to power, the image of Tirumala has suffered a setback due to a series of incidents, which hurt the sentiments of devotees. He appealed to the Chief Justice to uphold the faith of the people in the temple. He wondered as to the reason for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s reluctance in taking action against the TTD Chairman and EO, though the media and also Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan had held the ‘lack of coordination’ between them was responsible for the mishap.

Expressing grief at the death of devotees, Mr. Satyanarayana alleged that indifference of the State government in making proper arrangements had led to the stampede. He said that at least a review meeting on ‘Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam’ by the government and the TTD could have prevented the mishap. The Chief Minister, who was in Tirupati till January 8, or the Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy could have held a review meeting on the distribution of tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam.