Tirupati witnessed fresh protests as priests and sadhus launched an indefinite hunger strike against the construction of Mumtaz Hotel, a luxury resort near the sacred Tirumala hills. Led by Andhra Pradesh Sadhu Parishad president Srinivasananda Saraswati Swamy, the protesters gathered outside the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) office, demanding an immediate halt to the project.
The priests argue that the hotel threatens the sanctity of the Sri Venkateswara temple and are calling for action from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, who have voiced support for Sanatana Dharma.
In November 2024, TTD chairman BR Naidu urged the state government to cancel the hotel’s land allotment, citing religious concerns. This marks the second major protest against the project, initially approved under the 2020-2025 Tourism Policy by the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government. Religious groups continue to oppose the project, raising concerns on social media.