Excerpts from the press conference:
* All the jewels of Lord Venkateswara are absolutely safe amidst tight security set up. There is no chance of the jewellery going missing from inside the temple as alleged by (former chief priest) Ramana Deekshitulu and YSRC MP Vijaya Sai Reddy.
* TTD has been maintaining Tiruvabharanam register since 1952. The details of each and every jewel is clearly mentioned in the register.
*Justice Jagannadha Rao committee and Justice Wadhwa committee have already given a detailed report certifying that all jewels are absolutely safe and in tact.
*We were astonished to see the way the jewels are safeguarded in Tirumala temple. It was like ‘Padamavyuha’. The hi-fi security cameras vigil round the clock and safeguard the jewels.
*There are three sets of safe locker keys with one set being maintained by Chief Priest of the temple, another lies with Deputy EO of the temple and the other one with Bokkasam Incharge (jewelry Superintendent).
*It is impossible to do any mischief with the jewels. So the allegations made by Sri Ramana Deekshitulu are absolutely baseless.
*With respect to another allegation made by him over the digging of potu for hidden treasures is void of any truth.
*The potu is an age-old structure with one sidewall already in dilapidated condition.
*Keeping in view the safety of the entire temple structure (as it happens to be close to main shrine) and the safety of potu workers, our engineers have taken all safety measures while executing repair works. The refractory brick walls and gudders were erected to prevent the damage to the structure and no digging took place on floor. This is the fact and realty.
*Sri Ramana Deekshitulu should stop the mud slinging against TTD and Lord Venkateswara as there is no truth in his allegations.
Board members Sri Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao, Sri Peddireddi, Sri Meda Ramakrishna Reddy, Sri Ashok Reddy, Sri Rudraraju Padmaraju, Sri Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, and Sri Krishna were also present.