BJP to embark on Tirupati chalo programme

Hyderabad, Oct 17 (UNI) The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party will embark on a Tirupati Chalo programe on November 1 in protest against large-scale conversion of Hindus to other religions in Andhra Pradesh.

BJP State President and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told reporters here today that religious conversions continued unabated in Tirupati and other parts of the State.

It was unfortunate that atheists were given postings in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and in the Religious Endowments department, he lamented.

Mr Dattatreya alleged that the Congress Government was diverting funds from the temple of Lord Venkateswara to activities other than religious propagation at a time when more than 36,000 temples in the State were not in a position to perform pooja regularly.

He wanted the State Government to immediately take steps to free over 1.20 lakh acres of temple lands involved in court cases.

UNI