Visakhapatnam (AP), May 22 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today accused the BJP of hatching a "conspiracy" to tarnish his and his government's image by raking up an unnecessary controversy over the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala.

Asserting that nothing was amiss in Tirumala, the chief minister lashed out at the Centre for trying to take over the Lord Venkateswara shrine "through the backdoor" in the name of a "protected monument."

Addressing a public meeting here tonight, he said "Tirumala is the number one temple in the entire country that is run strictly in accordance with traditions.

As part of a conspiracy to tarnish my image and also that of my government, the state and the Telugu Desam Party, the BJP is stirring up an unnecessary controversy using the former Chief Priest of the temple. We will not tolerate this."

Asserting that no jewellery of the Lord was missing, he said no "pink diamond" existed and it was only a pink ruby.

"Several commissions over the years clearly established this but now an unnecessary controversy is being created on this.

Also, baseless allegations are being made over diversion of TTD funds and the maintenance of potu (temple kitchen)," he said.

He claimed that the Centre tried to take over the Tirumala temple "through the backdoor", citing it as a protected monument, but it backtracked following outcry from the public.

Earlier, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Chairman P S Yadav and Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat in Amaravati and briefed him about the temple issues.

The executive officer showed the Chief Minister the temple records of all the Lord's ornaments and the reports submitted by different commissions.

He also informed the Chief Minister that nothing was done to the potu (temple kitchen) as was being alleged by former chief priest Ramana Dikshitulu.

The Chief Minister directed the TTD authorities to place all facts before the people and ensure that the sanctity of the temple was not affected.

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