Govt must stop sale of temple lands

Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Apr 5: Andhra Pradesh Government should withdraw the proposal for sale of temple lands immediately to protect the small and medium temples in the State, according to Simhadri Satyanarayana Rao, former Endowment Minister at Avanigadda.

Talking to UNI here today, he said if the Government was firm in its decision, 30,000 temples would be closed.

Mr Rao alleged that the Government decision to earn Rs 25,000 crore by selling temple lands. would result in starvation of five lakh family members of priests.

He claimed only the temples were required to bear the salary expenditure of employees and priests from the properties donated by philanthropists centuries ago.

It is time the Government provided financial assistance in this regard, he added.

UNI