Committee confirms campaign by other religions

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, July 17 (UNI) The Justice Bhikshapati Committee appointed by the Visweswara Tirtha Swami of the Udipi Pezhavar Mutt has confirmed that Christians missionaries had intensified religious campaign in Tirupati and Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara.

The five-member Committee comprising Justice K B Siddappa, a retired High Court Judge, former DGP TS Rao, Dravidian University former Vice Chancellor Ravva Srihari and Padmavati Mahila University former Vice Chancellor P Girvani visited Tirupati and Tirumala on June 21 and 22.

The committee members also interacted with pilgrims and TTD officials before submitting their report to Visweswara Tirtha Swami.

The Committee was critical of TTD special officer Dharma Reddy, Padmavati Mahila University Vice Chancellor Vena Noble Das and S V University College Principal Deva Sangeetam.

Sticking posters or any other material pertaining to other than Hinduism was prohibited in Tirumala Hills. However, recently Christian missionaries were not only caught distributing pamphlets preaching Christianity but were also seen prevailing upon Hindu pilgrims to convert, the report said.

On April 22, two Christian women were caught distributing pamphlets about Christianity in the queue complex of the temple town by the pilgrims, who handed them over to TTD authorities.

The report said the authorities did not take action against them.

TTD Special Officer Dharma Reddy got them separate darshan and gave them 'Prasadam' of the Lord to them. The explanation given by him was that the Christian women had sought the darshan and prasadam for AIDS patients staying in an asylum run by them.

The report said that people of other religions should not be permitted to the queue complex for darshan, until they sign a declaration. The report said this rule was not observed in their case.

UNI KNR/JRK VV MIR PC2125