Pranab Mukherji in Tirupathi Today

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (07-01-2012) offered prayers at the famous temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here. Mukherjee, accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy, was in the temple for about 30 minutes. Before leaving the shrine, Mukherjee was presented with sacred laddu prasadam and holy water by temple management.

Complimenting Andhra Pradesh for its "powerful" SHG network which was working like a revolution, Mr. Mukherjee said that an exclusive financial institution with a corpus fund of Rs. 500 crore would be set up soon at the national level to exclusively meet the financial requirements of the SHGs. Earlier, he formally declared open the 'historic arch' at the entrance of Sri Venkateswara Medical College. MP Chinta Mohan, District in-charge Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, TTD Chairman K. Bapi Raju, MLAs K. Chiranjeevi (Tirupati) and P. Ravi (Puthalpat), MLCs Y. Srinivasulu Reddy and R. Reddeppa Reddy were present.

After his worship, Mukherjee left for Delhi, the sources said. This was his second visit to the ancient hill shrine. He had worshipped Lord Venkateswara when he was the External Affairs Minister on August 25, 2007, the sources said.