In a shocking revelation, Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society Director R V Chandravadan has claimed that nearly 20 to 25 'sex centres' exist at Tirumala Hills, one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus.

Explaining the preventive steps taken up for the control of AIDS and HIV to media persons in Tirupati on Thursday night, Chandravadan said nearly 400 sex workers were engaged in the flesh trade in the holy hills visited by pilgrims from across the world.

In Tirupati, about 3,500 sex workers carried on with the profession. Here, the incidence of HIV was high due to heavy pilgrim influx and migration of construction workers from the bordering states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Clinical tests were conduced on 7,604 males in the month of May and 268 of them were found positive, he said.

The news immediately hit television channels across the country, forcing Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to come out with a clarification.

At a hurriedly-convened press conference, TTD executive officer K Ramachary and Chandravadan alleged that the media had distorted the remarks.

Chandravadan said the reports were unofficial and needed to be checked for the veracity.

Ramanachary said the official should have gone through the facts thoroughly. The issue would be discussed with TTD chairman B Karuankara Reddy and others concerned.

He asked the media to censor the issue for the sake of Hindu sentiments, respecting the spiritual institution of the TTD.

Meanwhile, leaders of all political parties, including the CPI, CPM, the TDP and the BJP strongly objected to the remarks made by the APSACS director.

They said being in responsible position, Chandravadan should have made the remarks only after getting to know the true facts as it hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus in the country.