The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : TDP demands panel to safeguard Tirumala's sanctity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TDP demands panel to safeguard Tirumala's sanctity

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party has demanded constitution of a high-level committee to suggest ways of protecting the sanctity of the seven Tirumala hills in the light of recent `disturbing developments'.

Addressing a press conference, TDP leaders A. Rajkumar and R. Seetharama Rao charged the Government with looking the other way when pamphlets were allegedly distributed by a particular religious group to pilgrims standing in the queue complex at Tirumala.

Claiming that such activities were confirmed by the Justice Bikshapathi committee they demanded strict implementation of the rule disallowing propagation of other religions in Tirumala and Tirupathi.

As if this was not enough, the Government Order confining the jurisdiction of the temple to only two of the seven hills was like rubbing salt on its wounds.

VHP's demand

Welcoming Endowments Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy's clarification on all the seven Tirumala hills, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Andhra Pradesh West, has demanded that the Government issue fresh orders specifying that 250 km area around the temple form part of the holy shrine.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh