The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) of negligence, fund misuse, and poor upkeep, following the reported death of nearly 100 cows at its Gosala over the past three months
On Friday, YSRCP leader and former Rajahmundry MP M Bharath posted on social media platform X:
“Heartbreaking scenes emerge from the TTD Gosala, where nearly 100 innocent cows have lost their lives over the past three months due to sheer neglect and poor maintenance.”
Calling it a betrayal of Lord Venkateswara’s trust, he urged Hindu leaders to demand accountability from the temple authorities. Echoing similar concerns, former TTD Chairman and senior YSRCP leader B Karunakar Reddy demanded an investigation into what he called the worsening condition of the Gosala under the current administration.
He also criticised the appointment of a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) lacking expertise in cattle care, calling it “sheer negligence” by the NDA coalition government in the state.
TTD Denies Claims, Cites Vigilance Report on Past Mismanagement
TTD officials have denied the allegations, however, calling them “baseless and politically motivated.” Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao dismissed viral images claiming to show deceased cows as “fake and misleading,” saying that they were not from the TTD premises.
In a detailed press briefing on Monday, Rao pointed to a vigilance report that exposed a series of irregularities at the Sri Venkateswara Gosala (SV Gosala) between March 2021 and March 2024—during the YSRCP’s term.
He clarified that cow deaths at the Gosala have remained within the expected range.
“On average, 15 cows die each month due to old age and illnesses. From January to March 2024, we recorded 43 cow deaths, along with 59 calf births,” he said.
Rao alleged that during the YSRCP tenure, unhygienic and low-quality fodder was fed to cattle. He also accused the previous board of floating illegal fodder tenders and blocking internal investigations to cover up the deaths.
“If YSRCP leaders were genuinely concerned, why did they not initiate any inquiries while in power?” Rao questioned.
TTD Highlights Reforms, Exposes Past Corruption
Rao also highlighted recent reforms aimed at improving transparency and service delivery. These included overhauls in Seva and Darshan ticketing, Annaprasadam and laddu preparation, and efforts to curb broker influence.
He alleged widespread misuse of donor privileges during the previous administration, revealing that adulterated ghee was procured for sacred laddu prasadams and low-grade organic items were passed off as donations.
“A donor took undue benefit of ₹25 crore through fraudulent passbooks by donating substandard items worth only ₹5 crore. We’ve cancelled those privileges and blacklisted such suppliers,” he added.
TTD urged devotees not to fall prey to “malicious propaganda” and reaffirmed its commitment to both animal welfare and the sanctity of temple traditions.
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