Tirupati: Asserting that Tirumala is the “spiritual capital of Hindus”, Andhra Pradesh BJP on Thursday demanded that about 1,000 employees of TTD, who are suspected to be practicing the non-Hindu faith, should be removed from the temple board services.
Andhra Pradesh BJP spokesperson and member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Bhanu Prakash Reddy said the representatives of the board will soon meet CM Chandrababu Naidu and request that the services of non-Hindus are not required.
“TTD has over 6,500 permanent employees and more than 17,000 contract employees, bringing the total to about 24,000. I have received information that more than a thousand employees practice a non-Hindu religion, which is why we are taking a strong stance on this matter. On February 14, we will be meeting our CM Chandrababu Naidu Garu, to request that non-Hindu employees should not be part of TTD,” he said.
Bhanu Prakash Reddy has declared that party representatives will soon convene with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The goal is to persuade the administration that non-Hindus are not suitable for roles within the temple board services.
This call comes amid disciplinary actions against 18 employees for alleged non-Hindu practices. Despite some claiming adherence to Hinduism, the BJP’s push underscores a broader intent to ensure religious conformity among all temple staff, aligning with TTD’s traditional practices.
