Evangelical activity banned at Tirupathi

Other than those already under the Andhra Pradesh Charitable & Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, today’s order lists 19 other Hindu temples in the state under the notification. The first is the seven hills of Tirupati, and the second on the list are the 10 theerthams within the TTD limits.

The Government also has the power to bring other religious institutions under the ambit of the rule. The ordinance is called the Andhra Pradesh Propagation of other Religion in the Places of Worship or Prayer (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2007. Temple officials said that the other law is so sensitive, that not only does it apply to other religions, but also to other sects of the Hindu religion. In the TTD hills, only the Venkateswara sect will be allowed.

The order quotes from a 1996 order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the ancient writings of Poigai Alwar and one Stratton, who was Collector of the area in 1801. It says that the “temple at Tirumal, undoubtedly one of the most ancient Hindu temples in the world, has had a unique unbroken tradition of worship for nearly 2,000 years. It is revered as the holiest shrine by most Hindus”.

Occasionally, there have been incidents when other religions were preached in the area. On April 22, two Christian women were caught distributing pamphlets about Christianity in the queue complex of the temple town by the pilgrims. They were handed them over to TTD authorities.

Anybody found violating the provisions of the ordinance will be sentenced to three years of imprisonment or imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 or both.

After this, a five-member committee—led by Retired Justice Bhikshapti—was appointed to investigate the alleged conversions in the area. The committee confirmed that Christian missionaries had intensified religious campaign in the hills. However, the issue became controversial when the Government-appointed Executive Officer of the temple, A P V N Sarma and Special Officer A V Dharma Reddy attributed motives to the committee’s report.