No conversion in Tirumala: TTD chairman

Bangalore, Sep 20 (UNI) Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) chairman B Karunakara Reddy today denied reports that religious conversions were taking place in Tirumala.

''No conversion has taken place in Tirumala. It is only a rumour spread by some vested interests to destabilise the faith of devotees,'' he said, speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of TTD Information Centre here.

Tirumala is a sacred shrine and any devotee with bad intentions would return a good man, he added, calling upon the devotees not to get carried away by such rumours.

Mr Reddy said the Hindu Prachara Samithi, set up by TTD, was taking steps to spread the importance of Hindu dharma. ''Bhajan Mandalais'' would be set up throughout the country. ''We are committed to spread Hindu dharma and steps are being taken in this direction.'' TTD executive officer A P V N Sharma, in his address, said setting up of Vedic University, the first of its kind in the country, would become a reality shortly. Efforts were being made to translate 'Dasa Sahitya' from Telugu to other languages.

Karnataka Science and Technology Minister Ramachandra Gowda appealed to the TTD to influence the Andhra Pradesh government to sanction land, enabling the state government to take steps to provide facilities for pilgrims visiting Tirumala from the state.

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