The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’ (TTD) Board, which manages Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Venkateswara temple has transferred 18 employees “practicing and participating in non-Hindu religious activities”. Six of the employees are teachers at various TTD educational institutes, according to the TTD’s executive order released on February 1. The others include a deputy executive officer (Welfare), an assistant executive officer, an assistant technical officer (electrical), a hostel worker, two electricians, and two nurses.
In the order issued by TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao, the board says that the 18 employees have been transferred to other posts. It goes on to say that as “dedicated servants of the Lord Venkteshwara and the esteemed TTD, all the TTD employees are committed to maintain the sanctity of the temple by upholding the traditions and values that have been followed for centuries and to uphold the beliefs and sentiments of the devotees”.
The order states that the 18 employees have been identified as those practicing and participating in non-Hindu religious activities even though “they have taken the oath before Lord Venkateshwara stating that they will follow the Hindu dharma and Hindu traditions only and also stating that they will not follow non-Hindu religious activities in compliance of Rule 9 (vi) issued in GO No 1060 of Revenue Department (Endowments) on October 24, 1989”.
Even after taking the oath, the 18 employees were practising and participating in non-Hindu religious activities and also taking part in Hindu religious fairs, festivals, and functions conducted by the TTD, the order says, claiming that this” impacts the sanctity, sentiments and beliefs of crores of Hindu devotees”.
Source : The Indian Express
