Tirumala, August 13, 2013: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) management on Monday remained perplexed with the union leaders of APSRTC employees stoutly rejecting its appeal to exempt Tirumala from the indefinite strike call. The anti-bifurcation stir has already assumed serious proportions in both Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Informed sources said that all hectic consultations by the TTD top brass to persuade the union leaders had proved futile.

The union leaders have said that any attempt to exempt Tirumala from the bandh call will not only defeat the very purpose of their struggle but also have a cascading effect in other districts.

While contacted by The Hindu, the Tirumala-based TTD’s Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju said that there is no alternative for the services being rendered by the APSRTC, which serves as a major means of transport for over 70 per cent of the visiting pilgrims in reaching the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara from Tirupati.

When repeatedly asked as to what steps the management would take, Raju, who preferred to remain reticent, quipped, “We will cross the bridge when it comes.”

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 13, 2013.