Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: Organiser
Date: July 16, 2006
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=139&page=3
Startling revelation by the fact-finding committee
Congress patronage suspected
Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of the Pejawar
Mutt in response to startling disclosures of the planned evangelist activities
in the holy Tirupathi temple premises announced that the leaders of Hindu
mutts would meet in the temple complex on July 15 to discuss the activities
of Christian missionaries, including attempts to convert Hindus in Tirumala
and Tirupathi.
The Swami said it was disturbing that Christian
missionaries had selected these places to carry out conversions. "We
will meet in Hyderabad on July 11 and then in Tirupathi on July 15 to chalk
out our course of action," he said. He was speaking after receiving a
report from a fact-finding committee on this issue and sent by him to Tirupathi.
The committee visited Tirumala and Tirupathi last month and held meetings
with people there before preparing the report.
"As a Hindu saint, I am worried about
the conversion activity taking place there, which was why I constituted the
committee to look into the matter," he said.
Shri D. Bheemasena Rao, the convenor of the
Tirumala Tirupathi Samrakshana Samiti, said the July 15 meeting is likely
to chalk out a mass awareness programme against conversion. Retired Andhra
Pradesh Director General of Police, Shri T.S. Rao, who was a member of the
fact-finding committee, said that 15 to 20 families in Tirumala have been
converted in the past two years. He alleged that the vice-chancellors of the
Padmavathi and Venkateshwara universities were using coercive methods to convert
students to Christianity. "During public interactions, we were told that
students who had enrolled for PhDs were being pressurised to convert. They
have even been told that they would not get their doctorate unless they converted,"
he added.
Dravida University's former Vice-Chancellor
Dr R. Srihari maintained that Christian missionaries had chosen some important
places of worship in Andhra Pradesh as part of their strategy, which was why
they had moved to Tirumala and Tirupathi for this exercise.
The following is the full text of the high-level
committee's report:
The Committee found that members of the Christian
community distributed religious pamphlets and copies of the Bible to the students
who were returning after writing the EAMCET examinations conducted at various
centres in Tirupathi in May 2006. Apart from other persons, who deposed before
the Committee, this information was also disclosed by the son of Shri Prabhakara
Acharya, Secretary of Vaikhanasa Ashram at Tirumala, who appeared for the
EAMCET examinations. This activity of the Christians led to serious tense
situation in Tirupathi. It was also revealed to the Committee that a large
number of women and men, dividing themselves into several groups, distributed
Christian religious material at various places including EAMCET centres. Some
student organisations protested against these activities. Police had to intervene
to maintain law and order.
On April 9, 2006, two Christians by name Balaraju
(pastor) and Babu while coming down from Tirumala to Tirupathi in bus bearing
No. AP 11Z 1130 distributed pamphlets propagating Christianity to the pilgrims
travelling in that bus. One of the passengers Shri Arvind of Hyderabad complained
the matter to the AV&SO Shri S. Sivananda Kishore, who after enquiry,
gave a report on 11.4.2006 to the Vigilance and Security Officer, TTD. Basing
on his report, a case in crime No. 8/2006 was registered against S. Balaraju
and P. Babu, residents of Tirupathi and the police took up investigation.
On the basis of the said complaint, Shri R. Sivananda Kishore (AV&SO,
Sector-III, TTD, Tirumala), in his report recommended as follows:
"In the light of instant case, the following
recommendations may be considered to avoid recurrence of such incidents in
future.
As per Rule 197 of APCHR and E Act 1987 the
population living in Tirumala shall adhere to the norms and shall follow the
sentiments of Hindu Religion. As such a thorough probe has to be taken up
to verify the antecedents of non-Hindu employees who are working in TTD as
well as government departments, i.e. police, fire services, commercial taxes,
etc., who are staying in Tirumala. The identified employees and their families
shall be shifted from Tirumala.
His Holiness Sri Vishwesha Teertha of Pejawar
Mutt, Udipi, requested Justice G. Bikshapathy, Justice K.B. Siddappa, former
Judges of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Shri T.S. Rao, former Director General
of Police, Andhra Pradesh, Dr. P. Geervani, former Vice-Chancellor of Padmavathi
Mahila Vishwavidyalaya and Dr. R. Srihari, former Vice-Chancellor of Dravidian
University, Kuppam, to function as a fact-finding committee under the chairmanship
of Justice G. Bikshapathy to ascertain the factual position as regards the
activities of non-Hindu religious communities in Tirumala and Tirupathi and
to furnish a report to His Holiness for considering the steps to be taken
to prevent undesirable activities of the Christian and other non-Hindu communities.
Some of the family members of the TTD employees
such as wife and children are practicing Christian ideology and inviting the
pastors to conduct prayers in their homes at Tirumala, the committee found.
In the Rule 198 of APCHR&E Act 1987 the
following activities are prohibited at Tirumala:-
(A) Carrying and possession of holy books
of other religions like Bible, Quran etc. (B) Any kind of propagation of other
than Hindu religion by way of distribution of pamphlets, literature, brochures,
stickers, banners, flags, including prayers and speeches etc.
Two Christian women belonging to Chilakuluripet
were found in the TTD queue complex and they were caught red-handed on 26.4.2006
distributing religious pamphlets to the pilgrims in the queue and were handed
over to the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Tirumala by the pilgrims themselves.
The Committee was informed that the Vigilance personnel took into custody
these two Christian women and produced them before the DSP, Tirumala. The
Committee was told that the Special Officer got released those two women after
questioning them and arranged special darshan and gave prasadam. When the
Committee met the Executive Officer on 22.06.2006, Special Officer Shri Dharma
Reddy was present and he told the Committee that those two women came from
an old-age home, run by a Christian mission and they stated that as per the
wish of some of the inmates of the old-age home who were suffering from AIDS,
they came to get prasadam for distributing it to those inmates, and on that
representation of the two women, he permitted them to have darshan after signing
the requisite declaration and gave them prasadam. No name of the old-age home
was disclosed.
It is highly unlikely that a Christian would
travel long distance to visit Tirumala to collect prasadam offered by a Hindu
religious temple to be given to the inmates of an old-age home run by a Christian
mission. The two women did not disclose to the TTD officials concerned before
entering the queue complex that they were Christians, and they got into the
queue complex without signing the requisite declaration and obtaining permission
of the TTD officials concerned.
Two Christians David (pastor) and Kumar were
found propagating Christianity in Tirumala and they were handed over to police.
The police registered a case and kept them for two days on remand. Those two
persons admitted that they committed a mistake. This was also confirmed by
the EO, TTD who stated that the two were indulging in religious propaganda.
However, strangely the Special Officer, Shri Dharma Reddy, stated that they
did not indulge in any Christian propaganda. The two Christians were eventually
released without taking any action against them.
On May 21, 2006, Special Officer Shri Dharma
Reddy held a press conference in which he stated that no Christian religious
propaganda was going on in Tirumala. It is evident that he is not taking a
serious view of these objectionable activities of the Christians at the holy
place of Tirumala.
Propagation of Christian religion in educational
institutions in Tirupathi
Educational institutions at Tirupathi were
established on TTD land and with TTD funds. But in the colleges and hostel
at Tirupathi, Christian religious propagation is rampant. The Christian students
themselves act as propagators. Shri Deva Sangeetham, Principal of S.V. University
College, openly indulges in propagating and converting the students to Christianity
by making them go to Church, reading the Bible and creating disaffection towards
Hindu religion. After Shri Deva Sangeetham has taken charge as Principal,
the practice of garlanding the portrait of Lord Venkateswara is stopped.
After Smt. Veena Noble Das took charge as
Vice-Chancellor of Padmavathi Mahila University, she got removed the photos
of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi from all the institutions of the
Mahila University and she also got removed the portrait of Lord Venkateswara
from her office and discontinued the practice of garlanding the portraits
of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi everyday. Instead she kept a portrait
of Jesus Christ and the Cross on her office table. She sends batches of students
in the university buses to the church. It is also stated that in the Mahila
University, the students are not allowed to have tilak on the forehead now-a-days
and that students putting tilak are being discriminated.
Employment in the TTD
Only Hindus are to be appointed as employees in the TTD under the rule. However,
the EO stated that for some period this was not followed with the result that
some Muslim personnel came to be appointed. He further stated that steps are
being taken to shift them to some other places gradually. Some employees in
the TTD profess Christianity and that in the police quarters also congregations
and prayers are conducted regularly. There are about 40 Christian families
residing in Tirumala and they hold religious congregations at their homes
on Sundays. It is stated that even in the Annadanam Complex there is an employee,
Shri Ananda Raju belonging to Christian community, working as Superintendent.
The EO has stated that he will enquire and take action. Another Christian
woman works in the electrical department. Gopinath, Garden Superintendent,
also belongs to Christian community.
Non-Hindu employees of TTD and their activities
It is brought to the notice of the Committee that many people from Christian
and Muslim communities were being employed in the TTD and some of the Hindu
employees were even converted as Christians and they practice Christianity.
About 40 families in Balaji Colony are Christians. They hold congregations
and prayers on Sundays.
The Committee was informed that Gopinath,
who was posted on deputation as Garden Superintendent, is a Christian and
that he criticises worshipping Lord Venkateswara saying why should a black
stone be decorated with garlands, and that he indulges in criticising Hindu
Religion.
Considering the above facts and circumstances,
the propagation of Christianity with an ulterior motive of conversion is taking
place in Tirupathi and Tirumala. Since the EO has categorically assured the
Committee that no such incidents will be allowed to take place, the matter
has to be reviewed periodically.
Scouts and guides
In the queue complex number of scouts and guides are deployed to regulate
the pilgrims. It is understood that details of the religion of the persons
who are so engaged is not verified and that some of them belong to non-Hindu
communities. The scouts and guides are allowed into the main temple and to
have darshan. The Executive Officer has informed the Committee that he would
take appropriate measures to prevent non-Hindus being deployed as scouts and
guides in Tirumala.
Hawkers and shopkeepers
There are number of hawkers who belong to
Muslim community. Two instances are given. Shop Nos. 192 and 72 in the shopping
complex are run by Shri Jamal Khadar and Maithri. When this was brought to
the notice of EO he assured the Committee that he will look into the matter
and take appropriate action. It is also further brought to the notice of the
Committee that unauthorised hawkers are taken out of Tirumala by midnight
and left in interior Bakrapeta forest area. Even in this process also, mainly
Hindus are targeted and Muslims are rarely touched.
Opposite to Lepakshi Emporium, there are about
50 Nepali shopkeepers who are Christians and they also offer prayers on Sundays,
reading the Bible and other Christian religious material in Tirumala.
About 40 Muslim shopkeepers also are there
in Tirumala. They offer namaz on Fridays in Tirumala. There are also some
Muslim hawkers mostly from Kadiri (Ananthapur District).
Dress code and putting tilakam
Even though the EO has stated that dress code and tilakam were prescribed
for the employees, these were not being strictly implemented. The Committee
impressed upon the EO to implement these strictly.
Other illegal activities in Tirumala
i. The Committee was informed that various
illegal activities both at Tirumala and at Tirupathi are going on, such as
sale and consumption of liquor, sale and consumption of meat, flesh trade,
gambling etc.
ii. Cow slaughter is taking place in down
hill at Tirupathi near D.R. Mahal. The meat is being transported to Tirumala
clandestinely.
iii. TTD Kalyana Mandapam at Nagalapuram is
being used by the Christians for their prayer congregations and for performance
of Christian marriages. Near Sree Rama and Siva Temple in Tirupathi, Christian
prayers and propaganda take place by intercepting the Hindu devotees visiting
the temples.
iv. The newly constituted Specified Authority
in place of the Board of Trustees, (the term of which has expired) is being
headed by Shri D. Rosaiah, IAS, who is said to be a Christian.
The Tourism Department is going to take up
erection and operation of rope way from Tirupathi to Tirumala. The Tourism
Department plans to establish multiplexes, food courts and other entertainment
and recreational spots on Tirumala Hills. The Committee feels that in order
to facilitate the activities of Tourism Department on the hills, the area
of TTD is restricted to two hills covering an area of 27.5 sq.kms.
Division Bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court
has observed in a judgment as follows: "Although there is no documentation
available as the origin is lost in antiquity, there is no attempt made before
us to question the ownership of the Lord Venkateswara of Seven Hills. This
being true and a real concept, the Board of Trustees, the Committee or the
Executive Officer are only administrators of the property of Lord Venkateswara.
They can have no right of ownership in themselves and they cannot thus decide
to do anything against the interest of the right of the owner i.e., in the
instant case, Lord Venkateswara. Once the ownership is resolved and the right
to administer is deemed to vest as provided under Article 26 of the Constitution
of India in the plurality of the devotees and regulated by the provisions
of the Act and Rules framed thereunder, no administrator, whether appointed
under the Act or otherwise can take liberty to destroy the sanctity and holiness
of the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams and domain, as we have already held,
extends to all the Seven Hills called 'Tirumala'."
Earlier the Division Bench in para 3 held
as follows:- "It is not in dispute that pilgrims in thousands and millions
in number sometimes visit the temple and there is no day which is not full
of activities of the pilgrims and various rituals, poojas and rites of the
cult preserved since antiquity and no part of the Seven Hills, except some
secular activities which are essential for the service of Lord Venkateswara,
is free from religious activities in and around the temple right from the
Foot Hills on all sides."
The Sacred Seven Hills
The Committee is of the considered opinion that restricting the area of TTD
to only 21 kms covering two hills, runs counter to the ancient texts and age-old
traditions and practices of the temple and that the Hindus always considered
Sri Venkateswara as Lord of the Seven Hills and lakhs of devotees climb the
Seven Hills with utmost devotion and reverence bare footed chanting the names
of Lord Venkateswara. The Committee further feels that opening the Seven Hills
to the Tourism Department will destroy the sanctity, serenity and spirituality
of the Seven Hills and will seriously hurt the feelings of the Hindus throughout
the country and the world.
Funds of the TTD
Previously Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Samithi was organizsing various activities
like Harikathas, devotional lectures and concerts in religious music and dance
by eminent artists. Now, the name Hindu has been removed and a Dharma Prachara
Parishad is in its place which hardly conducts any religious discourses by
eminent Hindu spiritual leaders and does not conduct any religious cultural
activities by prominent artists. The members of the public further expressed
that eminent Hindu spiritual leaders should be invited to give discourses
regularly at important places throughout the country and even abroad. They
are of the further opinion that contributions of the devotees running into
hundreds of crores should be utilised only for Hindu religious and dharmic
activities and various service activities in the name of Lord Venkateswara
only. The funds should not be diverted to other activities.
The Devasthanam has donated considerable land
to a Muslim organisation for construction of a mosque, which has seriously
hurt and agitated Hindus, arousing their religious sentiments. Several persons
have expressed that more than 35,000 temples in the state are not having any
means for performing daily poojas and donating for other religions is wholly
unwarranted.
Constitution of TTD Board and the Committee
It is the general view of the public that TTD Board and its Committees should
comprise of eminent devout Hindus who have contributed to the development
of the Hindu faith and spirituality and government of the day should take
the advice of the Hindu dharmacharyas and Hindu spiritual leaders in making
such appointments.
