Former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao wanted the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya through a non-political trust and even had a master plan prepared. He also ensured that all important religious heads in Ayodhya were part of the trust.

The man who made this sensational disclosure a few years ago, PVRK Prasad, a media advisor and Additional Secretary to PV, passed away in Hyderabad today on the eve of turning 78.

A highly respected and committed IAS officer, PVRK as he was fondly known, gave a deep insight not just into PV but his experiences with CMs, politicians and public figures in the book `Wheels Behind the Veil (CMs, PMs and beyond)' in 2012.

In a long and illustrious career, Prasad made a mark as the Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) and Chairman of the Vizag Port Trust. He shot into the limelight early in his career when he stopped an influential industrialist from Andhra Pradesh from having his way in a large infrastructure project in the late 1970’s.

Prasad breathed his last in a corporate hospital following a cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter, who were with him when the end came.

He brought in several reforms and initiated projects at EO of the TTD during 1978-82 and also as an advisor to the body that administers the super rich Devasthanam after his retirement from service during the early part of the century. Influenced by his stint there, he authored several devotional books including Tirumala Charitamurthan and Tirumala Leelamrutham .

The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana, K Chandrasekhara Rao and the common Governor of the two Telugu states, ESL Narasimhan, expressed their condolences and recalled his contributions.

The Telangana State IAS officers Institute expressed grief and and in a statement its President BP Acharya recalled the exemplary services rendered by Prasad in the state.

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