Enter by wearing uniform, thus breaking traditional rule
Cops break TTD dress code norms
Three senior IPS officers recently flouted the norms of Tirumala by entering the Golden Yard (Bangaru Vakili) wearing their uniforms.
As per temple tradition, no one should enter the area during seva darshan without wearing traditional dhoti and kan duva or kurta - pyjamas.
The incident took place during the last visit of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu when he was accompanying Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi. Almost the entire brass of Rayalaseema police went with them, said well-placed sources in TTD.
Sources said that the three IPS officials — Mr Gopala Krishna, IG, Rayalaseema Range, Mr Balakrishna, DIG, Tirupati and Mr Gopinath Jatti, SP, Tirupati (Urban) — were not stopped till the Bangaru Vakili.
But when they were about to enter the sanctum sanctorum, they were stopped.
Noticing the mistake, the JEO of Tirumala, Mr K.S. Srinivasa Raju reportedly suggested that they change into traditional clothes and come back.
He also told them that there were new dhotis and kand uvas and the officers could wear them on top of their uniforms. But the police officers apparently refused.
Sensing that it might become an issue, the JEO asked the temple priests to bring down a purdah to prevent the officers and a security officer, who was also in commando dress, from entering.
The affronted officials later took up the matter with TTD EO Mr D. Sambasiva Rao also with DGP Mr J.V. Ramudu. Their contention was that they didn’t have time to change since the CM and the CEO of a big company were coming and they cannot salute them with traditional wear.
“We went inside not for any puja or seva. We went as a security cover to the dignitaries. As part of our duty, we wore the khaki uniform as we do wherever we go. Is there any agama shastra saying that no security personnel with khaki dress will be allowed? No. The rules were framed by the TTD and there is reason for every rule. We have not blatantly flouted them,” IG Mr Gopala Krishna told this newspaper.