ASI withdraws controversial letter to take over TTD shrines

The Archaeological Survey of India today withdrew a controversial letter it wrote to the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams managing the famous Lord Venkateswara shrine, on the feasibility of declaring it and other sub-temples as protected monuements.

ASI Director General Usha Sharma informed the TTD executive officer (EO) Anil Singhal that the letter, written by the ASI's Amaravati Circle office in Vijayawada, was being withdrawn immediately after it caused a stir.

In addition to the Lord Venkateswara shrine, the TTD administers 12 other important temples.

The Centres move evoked sharp reaction from the Andhra Pradesh government, which said the ASI's decision gave rise to suspicions.

The BJP, however, denied any such move by the Centre and said it was only "misleading lies" being spread by "vested political groups."
In a letter to the TTD Executive Officer yesterday, the Superintending Archaeologist of ASI's Amaravati Circle in Vijayawada said a communication has been received from "our directorate" to "examine the feasibility of declaring TTD and its group of temples at Tirumala as protected monuments."
This was "keeping in view their antiquity and historicity."