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Hostile Homelands: Azad Essa's book traces India-Israel ties before BJP era

Hostile Homelands: Azad Essa's book traces India-Israel ties before BJP era

Chintan Girish Modi Mumbai
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Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance between India and Israel
Published by Westland Books
274 pages ₹599
India's support for the Palestinian cause has grown so feeble in the last decade that soon it might be hard to remember that India was the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO). Though the shift in India's foreign policy is often seen only through an ideological lens, the real picture is more complex. South African journalist Azad Essa talks economics in his book, Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance between India and Israel.
The author, who is based in New
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Tirupati Board Suspends 4 Non-Hindu Employees, Members Welcome Decision
Tirupati Board Suspends 4 Non-Hindu Employees, Members Welcome Decision

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Tirupati Board Suspends 4 Non-Hindu Employees, Members Welcome Decision

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the administrative body that oversees the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala, suspended four employees on Saturday over allegations that they were following religions other than Hinduism, which is a direct violation of the institution's code of conduct. The TTD's decision comes in the wake of internal inquiries and a report submitted by its Vigilance Department. The employees' alleged practice of non-Hindu religious faiths is considered a breach of the institution's code of conduct, which mandates that individuals employed within the TTD system must adhere to the tenets of the Hindu faith in both conduct and practice. "In this context, after examining the report submitted by the TTD Vigilance Department, action was taken against them as per the rules and the four employees were immediately suspended," stated a press release issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of TTD, Tirupati. The TTD has a long-standing rule, reinforced in 2007, which mandates only Hindu employees for its workforce. Bhanu Prakash, BJP TTD Board member supported the suspension and alleged that these employees lacked faith in Hinduism. He said they were using the deity's resources while maintaining faith in other religions. He said that their struggle would continue until the last non-Hindu employee is removed. In a meeting chaired by TTD Chairman B R Naidu, the Board decided to transfer the non-Hindu employees to other government departments or offer them voluntary retirement (VRS). Earlier this July, the Board had suspended its Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) with immediate effect for allegedly practising another faith in his hometown in Tirupati district. In February this year, the TTD Board took action against 18 non-Hindu employees, who allegedly followed other religions despite taking an oath to uphold and follow the Hindu faith when they joined. All of them were barred from taking part in religious activity of the temple and take a transfer to positions that are not connected to the temple.

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Tirupati temple board suspends 4 employees for ‘practising other religions'
Tirupati temple board suspends 4 employees for ‘practising other religions'

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Tirupati temple board suspends 4 employees for ‘practising other religions'

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) which manages Andhra Pradesh's Sri Venkateswara temple has suspended four of its employees based on allegations that they are non-Hindus and practising other religious faiths. The suspended employees are B Elizar, deputy executive engineer (quality control); S Rosi, staff nurse, BIRRD hospital; M Premavati, grade-1 pharmacist, BIRRD hospital, and Dr G Asuntha of SV Ayurveda Pharmacy. These employees are believed to have violated the institution's code of conduct and acted irresponsibly in their duties while representing and working for a Hindu religious organisation, the TTD said in a statement. After examining a report submitted by the TTD Vigilance Department and other evidence, departmental action was taken against them as per the rules and the four employees were immediately suspended, it said. The suspensions are the latest in a wider effort to transfer or suspend officials belonging to other faiths from the TTD. On July 8, the TTD had suspended assistant executive officer A Rajasekhar Babu stating that he attends local church prayers every Sunday in his hometown Puttur in Tirupati district. TTD sources said that the board has taken a decision not to allow any non-Hindu to work in the TTD, especially in the temples governed and managed by it. After the Telugu Desam Party-led NDA government came to power in June last year, the TTD has transferred several non-Hindu employees working in various positions in the TTD. In February this year, the TTD transferred 18 employees for allegedly practicing and participating in non-Hindu religious activities. The transferred employees include six teachers at various TTD educational institutes, a deputy executive officer (welfare), an assistant executive officer, an assistant technical officer (electrical), a hostel worker, two electricians and two nurses. On November 18, in its maiden meeting of the TTD under new chairman B R Naidu, the board had decided to transfer non-Hindus and ban political speeches on its premises.

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