Bengaluru: The power of unity can really unnerve the opposition. As devotees lodged strong protests on social media as TTD decided to dispose of its 23 properties in Tamil Nadu, the temple authorities took a decision not to proceed with the endeavour. 

As reported by a popular website, The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the world's richest Hindu temple, decided that hereafter none of the immovable properties donated by the devotees will be disposed of, TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy said. 

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In the meeting that went on for five long hours, it was decided that a committee consisting of intellectuals, heads of Hindu religious organisations and devotees would be formed to take a call on how to deal with unviable properties. It would also decide on how to reclaim encroached properties. Furthermore, all the decisions taken apropos the disposal of such properties would fall within the framework of not hurting the sentiments of Hindu devotees. 

The website added TTD chairman saying that to put an end to the uproar created by a section of media and some vested interests on social media over the sale of unviable, immovable assets which impacted the sentiments of the devotees, the Andhra Pradesh government had issued an order banning the sale of such assets.

"The current TTD board has therefore rescinded its decision on the immovable properties, though they were processed by the previous board of TTD," Reddy said.  

It is interesting to note that the social media has been a very powerful tool of lodging protests and driving home pertinent points. 

While some alleged that the temple can’t be auctioning or selling lands or buildings or any other assets donated by devotees, some others alleged that there is a widespread conspiracy to build a church near Tirupati. 

Some others were also of the opinion that the auctioning process would be orchestrated so that Christians would come and participate in it.