The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
(TTD) management has found 44 of its employees as non-Hindus following
“alien faiths” and is set to crack the whip on them. The number is
spread across the ministerial-level to the cadre of Assistant Executive
Officer.
The Vigilance Department took up a thorough
investigation and reportedly conducted even a door-to-door inquiry to
zero in on their faith and praying pattern. In the past, a person’s
faith did not matter when it came to selecting him/her for employment in
the TTD, but instances of proselytisation such as drawing ‘cross’ marks
on the hills and distribution of pamphlets containing prohibitive
content in the vicinity of Tirumala created an uproar a decade ago. The
State government had then banned evangelical activities near temples.
Though
the issue was discussed widely sans any action, it assumed prominence
after the video of a woman officer entering a church for prayers in a
vehicle provided to her by the TTD management went viral on social
media.
Several Hindu groups expressed displeasure and demanded
action on such people, following which the TTD was forced to take action
by issuing memos and seeking explanation.
Though the nature of
action is not immediately known, sources said those identified might be
sent to State government service, without affecting their promotional
prospects and benefits.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad accused the
vigilance department of either complicity or having turned a blind eye
to the anomaly all these years.
“Not just practising a different
religion, some of them were found to be serving as pastors and
preachers,” VHP district secretary K. Subbanna told The Hindu. It thanked Executive Officer A.K. Singhal for taking prompt action on their demands.
Courtesy: The Hindu, dated 1st January 2018
