P Chidambaram to worship at Tirumala

Union home minister P.Chidambaram would offer worship at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here tomorrow.

The home minister would offer prayers after taking part in the sacred Suprabatham (hymns chanted by priests to wake up the Lord) in the wee hours on Thursday.

Tight security arrangement have been put in place at Tirumala and Tirupati in view of his visit to the temple town.

Temple sources told PTI that it was an unscheduled visit by the Home Minister to the hill temple late this evening.

He had arrived on a two hour trip to participate along with chief minister, K Rosiah in several government sponsored welfare programmes at  Kalikiri Village,70 km from here.

Rosiah had arrived here this morning and offered worship. Later, he received Chidambaram at the airport here in the afternoon and they left for Kalikiri by helicopter.

Temple sources said at the last minute before leaving Kalikiri for Renigunta airport to fly back to New Delhi, the home minister changed his mind and decided to visit the shrine while Rosiah proceeded to Hyderabad.

At Kalikiri, Chidambaram accompanied by Rosiah inaugurated a housing colony named 'Indiramma Housing Colony' with about 1600 houses constructed by State Government for the poor.

He also laid the foundation stone for construction of Tirumala Pilgrim Rest House at Kalikiri.

Earlier addressing a public meeting, Chidambaram said the Centre would extend all support to the state to continue its public welfare schemes.