The proposed appointment of Anil Kumar Singhal, an IAS officer with non-Telugu origins, as the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has come in for sharp criticism from actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.

"I am not against "North Indian IAS" officials taking charge of TTD. But would they allow a South Indian to take up the administrative position of such sacred shrines as Amarnath, Varanasi, Mathura, etc. When they don't allow South Indians to head such shrines, why should South Indians accept this? I wonder how TDP and the Hon'ble Chief Minister have allowed it to happen. They owe an explanation to the people of AP and South," Pawan has tweeted.

Although questions have been raised against the appointment, it's on the grounds that a non-AP person wouldn't be aware of the temple conventions and the language. Anil Kumar is going to be the few non-APite officer to hold the position.