No VIP treatment for non-protocol celebrities at Tirumala

TIRUPATI: In the wake of inconvenience caused to people during a visit to Lord Venketeswara temple at Tirumala near here by newly-weds Aiswarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, the shrine's management on Tuesday said VIP treatment would not be accorded to non-protocol celebrities like actors.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board chairman B Karunakara Reddy said no VIP treatment would henceforth be given to non-protocol celebrities like actors and business magnates during their visits to the temple.

"Thursday's Board meeting will discuss at length the stringent measures to be taken in this regard," Reddy said.

He also apologised to devotees for inconvenience caused to them due to the 'over enthusiasm' shown by some persons in the TTD for providing VIP treatment to Aiswarya and Abhishek when they visited the shrine a day after their marriage.

He, however, clarified the TTD was not going to take action against any of its members in this connection.