The Government of India had shifted the controversial archaeologist from Vijayawada to Bengaluru following the controversy of the department to take over the temples under Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). As there was serious resentment over the proposal from all quartes, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had shifted its superintending archaeologist Sreelakshmi.

Though the ASI claims that the transfer has nothing to do with the TTD controversy, it is seen as fallout of the uproar that the superintending archaeologist’s letter created in the State. Her letter to the TTD was seen as an attempt by the Narendra Modi’s government to keep a check on Chandrababu Naidu’s dispensation. Though there was really nothing of sort, it was attributed to the political differences that Modi and Naidu have these days.

The ASI senior officials in Delhi have summoned the superintending archaeologist to the national capital where they have asked her to move to Bengaluru. The officials have refused to give her a chance to explain the sequence of events and the reasons for her letter to the TTD. Though she had claimed that she had done that as directed by her senior officials she had little chances to justify her action.

The ASI had moved to seek information from the TTD to list the possibility of including the temples in the protected monuments list following repeated requests and communication from social activists. There was an initial proposal in 2011 to include some temples at Tirumala and other places under the TTD as protected monuments. Though the action was withdrawn subsequently, the damage was done to the ASI for its action.