On November 20, the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted bail to Naidu. (Image: News18)
He added, “I told him that I would start any program after having his darshan only, that’s why, I visited Tirumala to fulfill my oath to the deity at the sacred hill shrine
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Friday visited Tirumala and did darshan of Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
“I visited Sri Venkateswara Swamy, the custodian of the dharma. I was born at the sacred lotus feet of Lord Balaji. I grew up gradually and dedicated myself to serving the public. Venkateswara Swamy is our family god. We launch any program after praying to him,” Naidu told reporters.
Recalling the People’s War activists plan to attack him in 2003, he said that the miscreants exploded 24 Claymore mines in Andhra Pradesh’s Alipiri when he came to offer silk robes for the deity.
On October 1, 2003, People War activists triggered a series of powerful Claymore mine blasts, suspected to have been planted over some time. The impact of the blast was so intense that CM’s bulletproof car was hurled into the air and he sustained a collarbone fracture.
The former CM added that Sri Venkateswara Swamy saved his life in the attack and “today with the same devotion and faith I once again prayed to Lord Balaji when I am facing hardship.”
The comments of the TDP leader indicated his recent arrest for alleged misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation, which resulted in a purported loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer.
He added, “I told him that I would start any program after having his darshan only, that’s why, I visited Tirumala to fulfill my oath to the deity at the sacred hill shrine.”
Sharing about his arrest, he said people across the world extended solidarity with him adding that he cannot speak of politics at the sacred hill shrine. “I am not here to speak politics on the sacred hill shrine. One should not utter other words except chanting the sacred name Govinda.”
N. Chandrababu Naidu was arrested on September 9 and was released on interim medical bail on October 31.
On October 17, the top court denied interim bail to Naidu and said it would pronounce a verdict on his plea challenging the high court order refusing to quash the FIR against him in the alleged skill development corporation scam case.
Earlier this month, the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted bail to Naidu while noting that the discretion to grant bail should be exercised judiciously humanely, and compassionately.