Minister Alleges 1,000 Non-Hindus On Tirumala Temple Board's Payroll, Seeks Action
Union Minister and prominent Telangana BJP leader, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has ignited a fresh controversy by alleging that more than 1,000 non-Hindus are currently employed within the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the administrative body managing the revered Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.
The Minister made the remarks after a darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. Mr Kumar questioned the very presence of individuals from other faiths within an institution dedicated to Hindu deities and traditions.
"How can an organization like TTD, which upholds the sanctity of Hindu dharma, allow over 1,000 non-Hindus to be on its payroll?" he asked, emphasising the need to preserve the sanctity and spiritual purity of the temple.
The BJP leader further demanded stringent action, urging the TTD to immediately identify and remove all non-Hindu employees. He stressed that the employment of non-Hindus not only violates the spiritual ethos of the temple but also potentially hurts the sentiments of millions of Hindu devotees who visit Tirumala from across the globe.
"Does anyone provide employment for Hindus at mosques and churches?" Mr Kumar asked.
The Minister also called for a comprehensive inquiry into how these appointments were made, suggesting a potential lapse in recruitment policies or deliberate circumvention of existing regulations.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the employment of non-Hindus within TTD. Previous instances have also drawn criticism, with proponents arguing that only devout Hindus should be employed in a religious institution of such significance.
The TTD administration is yet to issue an official response to Bandi Sanjay's specific claims regarding the number of non-Hindu employees. However, the allegations are likely to put pressure on the board to conduct an internal review and provide clarity on the matter.
The BJP leader demanded stringent action, urging the TTD to immediately identify and remove all non-Hindu employees. He highlighted a recent case where a TTD AEO, A Rajasekhar, was suspended after being found regularly worshipping at a local church, questioning why action is only taken after such exposures.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the employment of non-Hindus within TTD. Previous instances have also drawn criticism, with proponents arguing that only devout Hindus should be employed in a religious institution of such significance. TTD's service rules, amended in 2007, generally prohibit the hiring of non-Hindus, though some employees hired before this amendment have continued their service.
The TTD administration has yet to issue an official response to Bandi Sanjay's specific claims regarding the number of non-Hindu employees. However, the allegations are likely to put pressure on the board to conduct an internal review and provide clarity on the matter.
The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, has previously stated that non-Hindu employees in TTD would be reassigned to other government departments.
Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, former Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), has strongly reacted to Bandi Sanjay's comments regarding the employment of non-Hindus within the TTD.
Mr Reddy has challenged Bandi Sanjay to provide evidence for his claim of over 1,000 non-Hindu employees. He pointed out that the current TTD board had recently stated there were only 22 non-Hindu employees. Bhumana Karunakar Reddy expressed suspicion that there might be a conspiracy behind Bandi Sanjay's remarks to undermine the sanctity of the Tirumala Srivari temple. He demanded an explanation from the "alliance government" regarding Bandi Sanjay's statements.
The TTD rules (G.O.Ms No. 1060, read with G.O.Ms No. 1372 in 2007) mandate that only individuals professing the Hindu religion are eligible for recruitment into TTD service, and employees must adhere to Hindu dharma and traditions.
The TTD board has also taken steps to transfer non-Hindu employees to other Andhra Pradesh government departments or offer them voluntary retirement schemes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21 minutes ago
- Business Standard
With ambition rising, Congress struggles to hold young leaders close
Once a formidable force in Maharashtra, the Congress is facing a silent but steady erosion of its traditional support base as the new generation of several loyalist families, once the party's backbone, are either aligning with rivals or retreating from active politics. This shift is weakening the Congress' organisational depth and compounding its troubles ahead of the crucial local body polls this year, party sources said. Last year, the party faced its worst rout in assembly polls, winning only 16 seats in the 288-member House. It contested 101 seats in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). In recent months, leaders from families with long-standing Congress ties have made moves that reflect the party's diminishing appeal among its once-committed base. Senior Congressman Anant Gadgil, who belongs to perhaps one of the last loyalist families that have remained committed to the party, expressed concern over the spree of desertions by second generation of families associated with the organisation for decades. Gadgil, a third generation politician, told PTI that as a person deeply embedded with the Congress ideology, he was concerned about the future of the 139-year-old party. He said he was disturbed to see that children of his father's (V N Gadgil) colleagues in the Central cabinet and many others have left the Congress and joined the BJP. In Maharashtra, ex-Union minister Milind Deora left the Congress in 2024 and is now a Shiv Sena MP. In Sangli, Satyajit Deshmukh, son of Shivajirao Deshmukh, a staunch Congressman, joined the BJP. "Look at the irony. The BJP which aligned with other parties to unceremoniously remove Shivajirao Deshmukh as chairman of the council later made his son an MLA. In Dhule, Kunal Patil, son of staunch Congressman Rohidas Patil, recently joined the BJP. "In Pune, Sangram Thopte, son of another Congressman and ex-minister Anantrao Thopte, joined the BJP claiming the Congress did not reward him suitably. Rajashri Patil, granddaughter-in-law of Congress stalwart Vasantdada Patil, too, joined the BJP," said Gadgil. "Satyajit Tambe, nephew of senior leader Balasaheb Thorat and once believed to be close to Rahul Gandhi not only became an independent MLC, but also a critic of Rahulji. All of them belonged to the traditional Congress families," the former MLC noted. Archana Patil, daughter-in-law of Congressman Shivraj Patil, moved to the BJP before the 2024 assembly polls and contested from Latur City against Congress' Amit Deshmukh. Gadgil said over the years there has been a change of approach within the Congress which is not going down well with loyalists as well as cadres. "There is a growing feeling among loyalists that party hoppers are immediately rewarded. They point out that in Maharashtra, in last 10-12 years, prominent posts were given to those who had either earlier deserted the Congress or joined Congress with party hopping record. There is an issue of wrong choice of (poll) candidates. Loyal Congressman are unable to digest all this," he argued. According to him, some senior functionaries are of the view the party's national leaders are not getting right feedback. "(Congress MPs) Soniaji, Rahulji and (president Mallikarjun) Khargeji have to look after party affairs in the entire nation. Its wrong to expect them to know everything. Therefore, party observers are appointed during polls. But if observers lack in their assessment, the party suffers," Gadgil contended. He said the Pune Lok Sabha seat was won by his grandfather and later his father several times, but it is now with the BJP whose candidate Murlidhar Mohol defeated Ravindra Dhangekar (Congress) in June 2024. "The Congress fielded a candidate (in LS polls) who had switched two parties. He lost and yet he was repeated for assembly polls (in Nov 2024). He lost that too. Now, he has left the party. All this happened in 9 to 10 months," he noted. The Congress needs to be on streets on issues like EC's "partisan" approach, "mishandling of post-Pahalgam situation" and unemployment, he said. Gadgil said the Congress split in 1969, but swept back to power at the Centre in 1971. "The party lost in 1977, but came back to power at the Centre in 1980. The Congress is like a phoenix," he argued. "Many of these younger politicians don't see a future in the Congress anymore. The organisation is weak. Their switch is more about survival than ideology," noted a senior Congressman, who did not want to be named. Political observers said the problem in the Maharashtra Congress is not just one of defections but of fading generational loyalty. Families that stood by the Congress through decades now find their younger members disconnected from the party's ideological moorings, they said. "Earlier, being with the Congress meant stature, access to Delhi, and legacy. Today, it means being in the opposition without direction," said a political analyst. Congress leaders, however, sought to downplay the impact of exodus of leaders. "Yes, some have left, but these are individual choices. The Congress still has a committed cadre and support among people," said MPCC working president Naseem Khan. A senior leader, who did not wish to be quoted, admitted there is unrest among the new generation of families loyal to the Congress.
Hans India
28 minutes ago
- Hans India
Rahul has immense affection for K'taka, claims CM
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated that the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has immense affection for Karnataka, while the BJP has 'betrayed' the state. Taking to social media X, on Friday, CM Siddaramaiah stated, "Rahul Gandhi has immense affection for the people of Karnataka. He always remembers how Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were elected from Karnataka, and how the state has stood by the Congress at every critical juncture." Siddaramaiah said that the Gandhi family, including Rahul Gandhi, remain deeply indebted to the love showered by the people of Karnataka, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is a proud Kannadiga. The Chief Minister claimed that while Rahul Gandhi remains committed to bringing positive, transformative change in Karnataka, the BJP has betrayed Kannadigas by denying the funds the state rightfully deserves. 'Even when Karnataka suffered devastating floods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not utter a word. BJP Karnataka MPs do not have the spine to stand up to PM Modi for the rights of Kannadigas. For Modi, Karnataka exists only during elections; for Congress, Karnataka's welfare is a daily commitment,' said Siddaramaiah. Commenting on his recent Delhi trip, CM Siddaramaiah said, "My primary work in Delhi was to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the Air Show during Dasara in Mysuru." While CM Siddaramaiah has asserted that he will remain in office for the rest of the term in Delhi, Shivakumar has largely restrained himself from making any direct statements. However, his camp has been vocal in demanding the Chief Minister's post for him. The recent visit of Randeep Singh Surjewala to Karnataka and his one-on-one meetings with MLAs have been perceived as an exercise to gauge opinions regarding the Chief Minister's post. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, taunted that Siddaramaiah had already taken the 'boarding pass' to exit the CM's post. 'There is no doubt about his exit. It's already decided. I'm not guessing,' he claimed.
The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
President nominates Kerala BJP veteran C. Sadanandan Master to the Rajya Sabha
The President of India has nominated C. Sadanandan Master, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran from Kannur district in Kerala, to the Rajya Sabha. The BJP reckons Mr Sadanandan Master a 'living martyr' after he lost both his legs in a suspected Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] attack in 1994. The lower primary school teacher had contested as the BJP candidate from the Koothuparambu constituency in the 2021 Kerala legislative Assembly elections. Mr Sadanandan Master had served as the president of the National Teachers' Union and is an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh think tank, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram.
