Hindu seers to launch agitation against Christian activities

Bangalore, July 3 (UNI) Heads of various mutts across South India will resort to agitation, if the Andhra Pradesh Government failed to put to an end to the 'undesirable' activities by the Christian community at Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara.

Informing this to reporters here today, Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji of Udupi Pejawar Math, who had constituted a five-member Fact Finding Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Bikshapathy, a retired Judge of the AP High Court, alleged that the Christians were hurting the sentiments of Hindus by propagating their religion and trying to convert people in Tirumala. ''This will badly affect peace and religious amity in the nation.'' The Committee, comprising former AP Director General of Police T S Rao, former AP High Court Judge K G Siddappa, Former Vice Chancellor of Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswa Vidyalaya P Geervani and former VC of Dravidian University, Kuppam, R Shrihari, handed over the report to the seer after completing its mission in Tirumala for two days from June 20.

The seer, also the Vice President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said every citizen was free to follow the religion of his choice.

''However, what the evangelists were doing was not acceptable.

Conversion done by force was condemnable. This was nothing, but a hate campaign against the Hindu religion which would have serious repercussions, he warned.'' He demanded that the AP government take immediate steps to transfer all non Hindu employees and trustees in Hindu religious centres and universities, schools and colleges run by Hindu religious institutions.

The Committee, in its report said, early this year, a pastor and his wife had travelled to Tirumala and distributed religious pamphlets to the passengers in the bus. One of the passengers had complained about the matter to officials of the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD) following which a case was registered against the pastor.

It said distribution of pamphlets and copies of Bibles to students who were returning after writing a competitive exam in Tirupati in May last had sparked off tension in the temple town. Some of the family members of TTD were practicising Christianity and also holding public masses by inviting pastors, it said.

The Committee said as per a state law, population living in Tirumala should adhere to norms and practices of the Hindu religion.

It also banned posession of Holy books of other religions and any kind of propogation of other religions.

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