Minister Appalaraju courts controversy over TTD darshan to 150 followers

Tirupati, July 28: Minister for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Seediri Appalaraju visited Tirumala on Thursday along with 150 followers. He reportedly exerted pressure on the TTD officials to arrange protocol darshan to them. 
 
Bowing to minister’s pressure, the TTD arranged protocol darshan to 20 and break darshan to another 100. Devotees, who were standing in queues for hours together, have expressed anger over the TTD for giving priority to followers of Appalaraju in providing darshan. 
 
Responding to a reporter’s question, the minister said that they have waited in a queue line just like normal devotees and offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara.
 
In February this year, Appalaraju landed in controversy for scolding a CI in foul language for not allowing his followers to enter Sri Sarada Peetham at Chinamushidivada during Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to meet Swami Swaroopanandendra Saraswati. The Andhra Pradesh Police Officers Association (APPOA) condemned the unruly behaviour of minister towards CI.