Tirupati shrine 145;defiled146;

The big story8212;splashed on the front page and occupying three inside pages8212;in the latest issue of the Organiser is about the 8220;startling revelation8221; of a 8220;fact-finding committee8221; on the alleged attempt by 8220;evangelists8221; to 8220;defile the great holy shrine8221; in Tirupati.

The big story8212;splashed on the front page and occupying three inside pages8212;in the latest issue of the Organiser is about the 8220;startling revelation8221; of a 8220;fact-finding committee8221; on the alleged attempt by 8220;evangelists8221; to 8220;defile the great holy shrine8221; in Tirupati. Some of the facts revealed are that the family members of some TTD employees are practising Christians and 8220;they invite pastors to conduct prayers in their homes in Tirumala8221;; members of the Christian and Muslim communities are among TTD employees in violation of rules; Christian propaganda is 8220;encouraged8221; in colleges set up on TTD land; the vice chancellor of Padmavathi Mahila University has removed the photos of Lord Venkateswara and keeps a portrait of Jesus Christ on her office table; hawkers belonging to the Muslim community only two operate in the temple complex; and the like.

Although it is not clear how the presence of non-Hindus amounts to 8220;defilement8221;, the report states that Viswesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt has convened a meeting of leaders of Hindu mutts at the Tirupati temple complex on July 15 to discuss the findings of the committee and 8220;chalk out a course of action8221;.

Defending PSU disinvestment

The Organiser seldom agrees with UPA government8217;s policies, but the lead article on how Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was forced to keep disinvestment decisions on hold because of the DMK8217;s arm-twisting, argues in favour of divesting shares of profit-making PSUs.

Writer Geeta points out: 8220;Disinvestment has become a bad word in India, so much so that if a public sector company wants funds for its expansion and modernisation, it has limited choices. It can either go and tap an expensive debt or generate enough internal resources for implementing the investment plans. It cannot go to the stock market and sell a minority stake among lakhs of well dispersed public shareholders and mobilise resources at a good premium which it can command.8221;

Citing the example of the well-managed Delhi Metro Railway Corporation, it says, 8220;If the DMRC tomorrow so decides to sell five or ten per cent shares in the market and capitalise on its goodwill, why should it be denied the opportunity. After all, by selling a minority stake in the market, the management of the DMRC would not go to the Bajajs, Agarwals, Tatas or Birlas.8221;

It further argues that, 8220;by politicising disinvestment, the well-managed PSUs are being denied the required level of autonomy and the opportunity to raise resources from the public, which will now go only to hands of the private sector.8221;

Ramadoss versus Venugopal

In the raging AIIMS battle, the Organiser is firmly on the side of embattled director Dr Venugopal. Its editorial points out that while the famous heart surgeon is entirely a self-made man who has served the AIIMS for close to five decades, Anbumani Ramadoss became Union health minister 8220;on the labour and politics of his father S. Ramadoss8221;. The minister 8220;never fought an election, never held any office before this job8221; and 8220;within a short period of being a minister, has earned a name for favouritism, misuse of office and high-handedness8221;.

Story continues below this ad

The editorial does not miss the opportunity to slam the Congress as well. 8220;What is galling in the entire episode is that the Prime Minister, whose name the minister used to rush through the motion to sack Dr Venugopal, has kept mum. He has not denied his name was used. The Congress party has dismissed it as something between the minister and an autonomous institution under him. The fact that the entire AIIMS has stood as one man in support of Dr Venugopal lays false the Congress claims.8221;

The AIIMS episode, it adds, 8220;is just one in the series of the UPA government8217;s agenda to destroy premier institutions. That8217;s part of the unwritten common minimum programme being supported by the Communists.8221;

Compiled by Manini Chatterjee