Govt must consider all aspects on temple lands: Pontiff

Tiruchirapalli, Aug 03 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government should consider all aspects of acquiring temple lands for distribution to landless farmers, the Madurai Adheenam Pontiff said today.

Talking to the journalists here, Arunagirinatha Gnasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal, 292nd Pontiff of Madurai Mutt while congratulating the State Government for the 'two acre land for farmers' scheme, said whether it is temple land or the land belonging to churches of Wakf Board, the State Government should consider all aspects before arriving at a decision.

He also appealed to the Government not to allow preaching of Christianity near the Hindu Temples.

The Government should not appoint officials hailing from other communities in temple administration or Hindu religious affairs, he said.

Stating that women of all ages should be allowed to worship he added that women should be allowed to enter the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala.

Asked about the sudden influx of Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees to the State, he suggested that the Prime Ministers of India and Sri Lanka, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, LTTE leader Prabhakaran and the Ambassador of Norway should meet and discuss the problem and a solution should be found for the vexed ethnic issue.

UNI GSM GKT AB VV1635