TIRUPATI: In a shocking incident, the name of

Jesus

Christ popped up on the link to the official page of the

''www.tirumala.org'', immediately prompting the biggest

temple organization in the country to get into damage control mode on Friday morning.

The display image of the link read "Sri Yesaiah. Sri Venkatesaya Namaha. Sri Vikarinama Samvatsara. Siddastha Panchabdamu. 2019-2020. The first word reads the name of the Christ in the link to the TTD's official website.

Following the shocking development,

Tirupati Devasthanams immediately downed the link to its official website and ordered a probe by its internal vigilance and security wing.

Speaking to TOI, TTD's chief vigilance and security officer Gopinath Jatti said, "Immediately after the incident came to our notice, we downed the link. We have also initiated an enquiry to probe deeper into the incident and get down to the facts."

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party said Friday's incident yet again adds credence to the fact that people belonging to other faith (non-Hindus) who are working in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams are resorting to such heinous mischief which has hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara across the globe.

Speaking to TOI, former TTD trust board member and BJP functionary G Bhanuprakash Reddy demanded the TTD to crack the whip against all those behind this murky episode. "People from other faith who are managing to still work in the TTD are willfully resorting to such acts, damaging the sanctity of the age-old Hindu institution. They must be punished for such acts", he demanded.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders demanded the state government to immediately oust non-Hindus with immediate effect from the TTD and restore confidence in the Hindus and the devotees of Lord Venkateswara. The state government must take a clear stand here and act tough on acts related to proselytism at Tirumala which cannot be allowed to go-on.

Porata Samithi convenor P Naveen Kumar Reddy lashed out at the TTD administration for failing to put in place adequate security and IT mechanisms to prevent tampering with its official website. "This is a deliberate act of trying to hurt the sentiments of Hindus and the devotees of Lord Venkateswara. TTD must act tough and punish all those behind this incident", he demanded.