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Sonia offers prayers at Tirupati amidst tight security

M S Shankar in Tirupati

Despite veiled threats and complaints by the Bajrang Dal, the visit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to the Venkateswara temple at Tirupati went smoothly today.

Gandhi drove straight to the mukhadwaram (main entrance) of the temple in the morning and entered the sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers to the Lord.

She did not, however, sign an undertaking to the effect that she believes in Hindu philosophy.

Non-Hindus are usually allowed to enter the temple only after signing the undertaking. Other dignitaries like Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and former Union railway minister C K Jaffer Sharief have signed it in the past.

Though the chief priest broached the subject, Gandhi remained silent, neither protesting against it nor agreeing to it.

Earlier, she was received by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthan Board executive officer I V Subba Rao and joint executive officer Balasubramaniam.

Speaking to journalists after her return, Gandhi rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party's allegation that the Congress is behind the attacks on the minorities.

"I'm sorry, it's the other way round," she said, adding that the minorities had been more secure under Congress rule.

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