2 TTD contract priests face action as video of Jagan meet triggers row

Tirupati: Two contract priests of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) have landed in trouble for meeting former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on the sidelines of his three-day visit to Pulivendula. According to sources, the two priests were part of a group of Vedic scholars and priests, who met Jagan and rendered ‘Vedasirvachanam' at his residence on Wednesday.After YSRCP activists posted the videos on social media platforms, the two contract priests, Shravan and Manoj, who work at the TTD-administered Vontimitta temple, were found to be part of the group of priests from the Brahmana Samajam, who met Jagan. According to TTD deputy executive officer A Prashanti, contract priests and workers are not supposed to take part in private events or programmes. "As they have violated the conduct rules, we have issued notices to them and have sought their explanation. If their explanation is found to be unsatisfactory, TTD services department will take a decision on initiating appropriate disciplinary action," she said.Reacting to the "unnecessary controversy", Tirupati MP M Gurumoorthy said there was nothing wrong in the priests meeting the former chief minister. "They were part of a group of priests and Vedic pundits who met Jagan and rendered Vedasirvachanam. It was not a private event as they met an elected representative who is also the former chief minister of the state. If this becomes a precedent, then TTD will have to hand out notices to thousands of its employees. It is unfortunate that the ruling TDP is blatantly misusing the TTD for one-upmanship over its political opponents in this manner," the YSRCP MP said.