DigitEye India Fact Checkers
A viral message pertaining to Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) is going viral over renting out a walking stick for Rs. 10 per pilgrim with Rs.150 as refundabale deposit. The claim in Telugu being shared widely on social media says that a new contractor under TTD has been lending the sticks for a price to pilgrims, blaming the ruling YSR Congress Party and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jan Mohan Reddy as the possible beneficiaries of the new business.
As is known, many devotees prefer to trek their way to visit the famous temple of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala.
తిరుమలకు నడక ప్రయాణం చేసే భక్తులతో కర్రల వ్యాపారం. కర్ర కి పది రూపాయల రుసుము కట్టి తీసుకోవాలి,కర్ర తీసుకోకపోయినా ఫెర్ హెడ్ కి పది రూపాయలు కట్టాల్సిందే.. కాదని ఎవరైన ఎదురు తిరిగితే పులి మళ్లీ వస్తాది. పది రూపాలు కట్టాం కద అని కర్ర తీసుకొని పోకూడదు,.. కర్రలు ఊరకే రావు👈👈👈 pic.twitter.com/qRfpBkDJwa
— Karapareddy Kandaswamy (@KarapareddyKan2) August 16, 2023
The context is vividly clear as a recent tragic incident in which a small girl was devoured to death by a tiger that hit the headlines. The 6-year-old girl was attacked and killed when she stranded away from the family group while climbing the steps. The incident has made the TTD to reinforce security along the trekking route to Tirumala.
As a part of this measure, the message in Telugu appeared on social media and the English translation reads: “Trading in sticks with devotees who make the trek to Tirumala. A fee of Rs. 10 should be given per stick, and even if the stick is not taken, Rs.10 should be paid per head. If anybody refuses, the tiger will appear again. Moreover, you can’t take the stick thinking that it’s just for Rs.10 as not returning would make you lose your deposit… sticks don’t come (free).”
In another similar message, it was alleged that the contract was given to a Reddy and that the sticks will not be provided free of cost. They are being shared here and here.
FACT CHECK
When the Digiteye India team checked for the authenticity of the claim to find a video and news reports pertaining to the decision by TTD’s newly-appointed Chairman Bhumana Karunakara Reddy. See the press conference here reported by local TV news channel Sakshi:
The same has been reported here and many news outlets have carried the report. But before the implementation of the scheme, the claim appeared on social media stating that it’s a new business for CM Jagan and his friends. However, the state government’s AP Government Fact Check has denied it here.
Fact check: The propaganda that rent is being charged for the sticks to be given for the protection of devotees reaching Tirumala on the staircase is a lie.
TTD Board has taken some decisions recently which includes appointment of 70 security guards (one for every 250 steps).… https://t.co/r9BpsAe722 pic.twitter.com/UVm2GQG5ZU
— FactCheck.AP.Gov.in (@FactCheckAPGov) August 19, 2023
Secondly, the image that features AP Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is also morphed. The sticks are not the ones that are being provided but an image taken from an advertisement by Flipkart e-commerce website has been taken and the CM’s picture has been morphed on that to justify the claim. The writing in Telugu ‘Maa Nammakam Nuvve Jagan’ (You are our belief, Jagan) was designed on it. The sticks being provided to the security staff can be seen here and they’re different:
Hence, both the claim and the image are false.
Claim: The TTD allotted the contract for supplying walking sticks to the pilgrims on the trekking route to Tirumala to a person who will be charging Rs 10 per stick.
Conclusion: False, the TTD security has given sticks to its security staff who are deployed along the trek route and the proposal to provide each pilgrim with a stick is yet to be introduced. The image of designed sticks with Jagan’s photo on it with a tagline has been morphed.
Rating: Misrepresentation — 
