HVK Archives: Sonia's Tirupati trip raises VHP hackles
Sonia's Tirupati trip raises VHP hackles - The Indian Express
Express News Service
()
January 30, 1999
Title: Sonia's Tirupati trip raises VHP hackles
Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 30, 1999
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today lashed out at Congress
president Sonia Gandhi for her refusal to sign the visitors'
register at the Tirumala Devasthana Temple at Tirupati.
"By refusing to affirm that she had faith in the Hindu religion
before entering the shrine, she has violated Hindu tradition.
She has thus offended Hindu society," observed VHP senior vice-
president Acharya Giriraj Kishore.
According to him, the temple had a long-standing tradition
whereby non-Hindus were asked to sign a register before entering
its premisers. "Because they are Christians, the mother-
daughter duo of Sonia and her daughter Priyanka did not sign it
and forcibly entered the temple," he alleged.
Asked why the VHP was opposed to this when the temple management
had refused to intervene, the Acharya replied: "The management
was cowed down because of her influence. It could not raise any
objection."
According to him when C K Jaffer Sharief, the then Railways
Minister, went to Tirupati to have a darshan of Lord
Venkateshwara, he had to sign the register. "I fail to
understand why Sonia did not do so," he said.
Until Wednesday Congress leaders had given the impression that
Soma would fulfill all formalities, including signing the
declaration. But the change, it is understood, took place last
night when the temple authorities had a long meeting with
Congress leaders about her visit to the temple.
While the official advice was that Sonia should sign the
declaration, as is the practice, two senior Congress leaders are
understood to have argued that there was no need for her to do
so, as it would amount to admitting that Sonia is not a Hindu.
Without naming anyone, TTD executive officer I V Subba Rao said
that those who accompanied her pointed out that since her
marriage to Rajiv Gandhi 35 years ago, she had been following
the Nehru Gandhi (implying Hindu) tradition and, therefore, the
declaration was not warranted. "We have not insisted on it," he
told The Indian Express.
On their part, the Devasthanam officials did their best to
ensure that Sonia followed temple convention.
Back
Top
|
