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Driver keeps President waiting as guards grow tense in Tirupati

22 August 2016 10:52 am - 23     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A major security lapse came to the fore during the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to Tirumala yesterday, the Hindustan Times reported.

 He was forced to wait for 12 minutes for his car after a darshan atop the Tirumala hill, giving jitters to the staff of the Tiruumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), especially the security.  An inquiry has been ordered into the lapse. The President reached Tirumala late on Saturday night for a two-day pilgrimage.

Upon arrival, the President was received by TTD chairman Chadalwada Krishnamurthy, executive officer (EO) Sambasiva Rao, Tirupati joint EO Pola Bhaskar and other officials. He made a night halt at the Sri Padmavathi guesthouse and arrangements were made for a visit to the temple of Venkateshwara at Tirumala early yesterday morning.   

At 3 am Sunday, the President along with his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari Sirisena, son Daham Tharaka and other family members attended the Suprabhata  Seva. When they came out of the sanctum sanctorium, the driver of their car was not in the seat.   

The President and his wife waited for about 12 minutes inside the car as his security stood guard around it. Even TTD staffers scurried around, the driver coolly returned from his own darshan of the deity. Immediately, Sirisena was driven at speed to the guest house.   

At around 6.30 am, during the VIP break time, the President and his family returned to the temple to pay obeisance to the presiding deity. He spent about six minutes inside the sanctum sanctorum and TTD authorities presented him silk clothes and pandits administered Vedaaseervachanam to the family.   

The minister in waiting, Andhra Pradesh's forest minister Bojjala  Gopalakrishna Reddy presented the president a replica of the Ananda Nilayam  (the dome of the garbhalayam of the temple) on behalf of the AP government.   

Later, the President and his family members left for Bengaluru by road and were scheduled to fly back to Sri Lanka.   

An inquiry has been ordered into the security lapse. It is learnt that the driver and other members of the President's retinue sought permission from the temple authorities for a darshan of the deity. They were reportedly permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorium despite the visit of the VVIP.  Tirupati Urban superintendent of police Jayalashmi is learnt to have questioned the temple authorities for giving permission to drivers and other staff during the VVIP visit.


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  Comments - 23

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  • Sim Monday, 22 August 2016 02:24 PM

    Last King was an Indian so following in his foot steps

    Daily Boru Tuesday, 23 August 2016 12:13 PM

    Long Live Nirmala Budhism !!!!

    Webkavi Tuesday, 23 August 2016 02:31 AM

    Why all these SL presidents are going to Thrirupathi? Wonder Buddhist temples lost its magical power

    Das Tuesday, 23 August 2016 12:39 AM

    The President should have faith in Lord Venkateswara and should have gone only with his family.

    aneanichan Monday, 22 August 2016 10:58 PM

    Deiyo Saaki Mehemath ---

    waco Monday, 22 August 2016 04:58 PM

    This mission was to see his previous and next birth relatives.

    Najith Monday, 22 August 2016 04:39 PM

    BuffaloaCitizen : Yep, you are an real brainless buffalo...

    nalaka Monday, 22 August 2016 04:04 PM

    wasting public money. Now people have realized that promises is promises.....

    Lanka Monday, 22 August 2016 03:44 PM

    We stay at more than 15 min in traffic due to the presidential entourage...what goes around comes around.....justice or karma...

    PilotAiya Monday, 22 August 2016 03:25 PM

    aiyo why worry Siri is a bigger friend of India even more than Modi himself. So why does he even have security in the first place.

    moki comments Monday, 22 August 2016 03:12 PM

    Every one same with GOD. Security lapse or not NOTHING WILL HALPEN. Bless you.

    Bingo Monday, 22 August 2016 03:06 PM

    @BuffaloaCitizen you got correct name mate

    Shantha Monday, 22 August 2016 10:43 AM

    Can this be a snub from the RAW.

    BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 22 August 2016 02:11 PM

    MaRa went on Public expense on such trips including carrying at least 50 hangers-on.

    BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 22 August 2016 02:09 PM

    Lord Buddha was born a Hindu and never left that religion until death. He preached the discipline of Hinduism minus rituals, culture and deities. This discipline was later known as Buddhism.

    anura Monday, 22 August 2016 12:16 PM

    Now Sirisena is also seemed to have been infected by MR virus . Aiyo Wikara !! What has happened to our so called Buddhist Presidents?

    Priyanthi Edirisinghe Monday, 22 August 2016 12:04 PM

    If MR goes on a trip like this it is "public money, mithyadushti..." and so on. When yahapalana leaders do the same....what is it?

    Citizen Monday, 22 August 2016 11:23 AM

    It looks like MS is following foot steps of MR.

    Dingiri Monday, 22 August 2016 10:53 AM

    This is what you call a foolproof security. Anyway it's time think before signing ECTA.

    upali Monday, 22 August 2016 10:50 AM

    Ayyo Sirisena!

    NIC Monday, 22 August 2016 10:49 AM

    This may be a clever ploy to deceive the Lankan masses that MS govt is not very close to India as they think.

    Hemapala Monday, 22 August 2016 10:45 AM

    Now you can bend over backwards to sign the ECTA.

    Tharaki Monday, 22 August 2016 10:44 AM

    This is what happens when we attach undue importance to Indians.


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