Daijiworld Media Network - Tirupati

Tirupati, Jan 10: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) chairman B R Naidu's comment on the recent stampede at Tirupati, which claimed the lives of six devotees, has sparked controversy and is likely to embarrass the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu, when asked about deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan's suggestion for an apology, said, “An apology doesn’t make the dead alive. There is no need to respond if someone says something,” while addressing the media on Friday.

The statement comes after Pawan Kalyan had advised Naidu and other TTD officials, including board members and executive officer J Shayamala Rao, to apologize for their failure in managing the stampede during the distribution of special darshan tickets on January 8. Naidu acknowledged the incident as a mistake and stated that an inquiry was ongoing to identify those responsible, pledging that action would be taken accordingly.

Pawan Kalyan, who had earlier visited Tirupati, reiterated his call for an apology, stressing that everyone in the government, including TTD officials, must take accountability for the tragedy. During his visit, he advised TTD officials to listen to the heartbreaking stories of the victims and publicly apologize for the incident.

While Naidu's comments have drawn criticism, he did express regret for the loss of lives, stating, “We apologise to the devotees,” but rejected the notion of an apology as a way to resolve the situation.

The incident, which has raised concerns about the management of large crowds at religious sites, continues to stir political debate, with opposition leaders calling for greater responsibility and transparency from the government and TTD authorities.